TRAFFORDS youngsters have enjoyed another bumper year for high GCSE grades.

The boroughs schools mirrored the national trend with a record number of pupils achieving passes and top grades.

One of the top performers in North Trafford was Urmston Grammar School which came inside the top 100 in the national league tables.

Over 95 per cent of pupils achieved A-C passes with almost half of these notching the top A* or A grades a rise of two per cent on 1999 figures.

In total 99 per cent of youngsters recorded A* to G grades and headmaster Michael Spinks expressed his delight with the results.

He said: The results demonstrate the excellence and dedication of the students and staff at Urmston Grammar School.

Special congratulations are due to Sarah Hadfi and Jane Pickersgill who both achieved eight A* grades with an additional A* and A grade in GCSE short courses.

Trinity Church of England School in central Manchester also had some good results from its 150 Trafford students.

Phillip Ward, of Norton Street, Old Trafford, had eight A* and three A grades - making him the schools top performer. Over half of the students at the school gained at least five A*-C grades and join Phillip in celebratory mood.

Headteacher Michael Evans said: Im really pleased for Phillip and all the boys with 15 of them coming inside our top 20 performers.

This is very much against the trend but staff and students have worked well together to maintain an excellent standard.

Stretford Grammar School achieved 92 per cent A-C grades - almost a third being A* or A. They finished inside the top 200 schools as did St. Ambrose College in Hale Barns, which had 98 per cent A-Cs.

Most schools GCSE results are published in a special supplement, which should be inside your Stretford and Urmston Messenger. You can obtain a copy from Old Trafford and Partington community centres, or see the results on this web site.