CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council has congratulated all GCSEs pupils for their hard work and determination in what has been an exceptionally challenging year.

Cllr Glynog Davies, Executive Board Member for Education and Children’s Services, said everyone who has received their exam results should be proud of what they’ve achieved.

Learners in Wales have been awarded grades based on centre assessment grades, based on professional judgements of teachers and approved by the Head of Centre.

Because of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, students were unable to sit final exams and instead their grades reflect predicted results based on coursework and mock examination results.

Provisional results released by Qualifications Wales show that just over a quarter (25.9 per cent) of GCSE students earned A*-A grades nationally.

Almost three quarters (74.5 per cent) received A*-C grades, and overall 99.6 per cent of students passed their GCSEs with grades of A*-G.

Councillor Davies said: “All of our students should be proud of what they have achieved, and on behalf of the council I’d like to congratulate them and wish them well for their onward journey.

“This year has been unlike any other and has presented exceptional challenges for our students and our teachers. I want to thank everyone for their extraordinary efforts and resilience, and for the great support staff, students and families have shown to one another.

“The effort, commitment and strength of character of this year group cannot be doubted and their results are fully deserved.”