Teenagers in Wirral were able to celebrate a fantastic set of grades in their GCSEs this morning.

On a day which saw many high grades given out across the country, Wirral's pupils did not disappoint.

Huge numbers of grade nines and grade eights, the best possible results, were being scored by many pupils at Wirral Grammar School for Girls.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this morning, Isabel Hough, who got a grade nine in Maths, Chemistry, English, Business Studies and RE, said: "It was quite hard to learn at home. But the teachers were really helpful, they're a big part of our success."

Isabel wants to study the economics of chemistry, a subject brought into focus by the pandemic, and has ambitions to go to Oxford University or the London School of Economics.

Ella Heap also achieved great success, getting nines in History, Art, Biology, Chemistry and English.

Ella said she was "very relieved" when she opened her results and that she wants to study medicine at Liverpool University.

High grades were also attained by Elisha Davies. She said: "It was hard work, it was difficult to keep going with the lockdown."

She thought the school's teaching made things slightly easier, but three eights in Drama, Chemistry and Physics, as well as sevens in Maths, RE, Biology and English Literature, showed that her efforts had been rewarded.

Elisha also wants to study medicine and become a doctor.

This was a theme of the ambitions of pupils at Wirral Grammar School for Girls - many of them had ambitions to have an impact in the world of science and medicine, occupations which are in high demand across the country.

Overall, 70% of grades handed out at the Bebington school were between seven and nine, the very highest levels, with the proportion of grades at level eight or nine rising to 45%.

Headteacher Elaine Cogan, said: "It has been a very difficult year for these girls and staff, parents and pupils should be congratulated for such excellent grades.

"I am proud that from the first day of lockdown staff taught pupils online their full timetable and finished all the examination specifications.

"The girls responded by producing excellent work and always went the extra mile."

Year 11 students at St Anselm's College in Birkenhead also had reason to celebrate.

98% of pupils were awarded grades four or above in both English and Maths, with 43% of all GCSE entries being allocated the top grades of seven-nine.

86% of entries fell between grades five and nine, with 97% of results achieving at least a grade four.

This maintained the high standards of recent years, with the school achieving similar results to last year.

There were many outstanding individual achievements, including Luca Marzin, who got 11 grade nines equalling the college record, and Joshua McAllister, who got 10 grade nines.

Headmaster Simon Duggan said: "This is a talented and hard-working Year 11 cohort so our students deserve these impressive grades and we are in no doubt that they would have achieved similar results if they had been allowed to sit their GCSE exams.

"Luca, Josh and Charles' awards are remarkable and well-deserved and we expect all these outstanding students to progress to the leading universities in the country in 2 years' time in the footsteps of this year's successful A-Level students."

St John Plessington Catholic College in Bebington also had some great results.

Priscilla Fatokun scored nine grade nines, while Emilia Pawlikowska scored eight nines, a huge achievement after such a tough year.

Maria Sharratt, the school's headteacher, said: "We are immensely proud of all the work and achievements of our students, especially after such difficult and disrupted years.

"They have risen to each and every challenge presented to them and have responded positively to the ever changing demands placed on them."

South Wirral High School in Eastham is also celebrating excellent GCSE results.

In another year of uncertainty, the school said students had managed themselves with real maturity and were rewarded for their efforts.

Notable successes included Sam Dobson, who got two grade nines, one grade eight and six grade sevens.

As well as him, Dan Collins got two nines, two eights and a grade seven, while Harvey Muirhead achieved one grade nine, as well as two eights and a seven.