Norfolk has seen a very slight drop-off in the number of passing GCSE grades but remains above pre-pandemic levels.

New figures have shown that 65.4pc of all grades given to GCSE pupils were above 4 this year - a decline of less than 1pc on 2023.

However, the figure is half a per cent higher than 2019 - the final year before the Covid pandemic.

It is a trend that has been reflected nationally, although the region still trails national averages of 68.3pc passing grades.

But while the number of passing grades has slipped, a larger percentage of top grades have been handed out to students in Norfolk.

This year, 3.3pc of all results were rated as a grade 9 - the highest available and equivalent to a high A*.

In 2023, this figure was 3.1pc, while in 2019 it was 2.9pc.

Within these results, there were many success stories for schools and their pupils alike, as many bucked the national trend by improving their pass rates.

However, for the fifth year in a row, the full picture of individual schools was not clear after many leaders opted against sharing results publicly.

It came following the advice of the Norfolk School Leaders Association, which urged schools not to reveal their hands in a trend started during the Covid pandemic, something which is reviewed every year.

Penny Carpenter  (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Penny Carpenter, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "We are incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished and look forward to seeing where their talents and aspirations take them next.

"Their success is a testament to their strength and adaptability during such a transformative period in education.

"For anyone who did not receive the grades they hoped for, there is lots of support and advice available to help you decide what to do next."