A NEW headteacher - who has today released his school's record GCSE results - is vowing to keep a successful Barrow secondary moving forward.

Peter Croft, who took over the headship of St Bernard's Catholic High School last term, is delighted with the 2017 exam results. Mr Croft, who joined St Bernard's three years ago as a deputy head, has congratulated the students who were the first cohort to sit the new English and maths GCSEs, which were graded from nine to one, rather than the traditional A* to G.

More than a quarter of St Bernard's students achieved A* and As across the subjects , or the new nine, eight and seven grades in English and maths. The proportion of students achieving a standard pass in English and maths - a grade four and above (equivalent to C and above) was 71 per cent. The figure for those receiving a good pass in English and maths - at grade five and above (C+/B) was 50 per cent, which is expected to be higher than the county average.

Mr Croft said there are some excellent results, he said: "We are very pleased with the GCSE results. Students and staff worked very hard."

Due to the numerous changes to the exams and grade boundaries, school leaders have delayed releasing the breakdown of results until they have been checked.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GCSEResultsDay2017?src=hash">#GCSEResultsDay2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/stbschool">@stbschool</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Congrats?src=hash">#Congrats</a> <a href="https://t.co/SvgegQzLl0">pic.twitter.com/SvgegQzLl0</a></p>— Natalie Chapples (@nchapplesNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchapplesNWEM/status/900629198439686144">August 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gobsmacked students dazzled by A* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GCSE?src=hash">#GCSE</a> grades at <a href="https://twitter.com/stbschool">@stbschool</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Barrow?src=hash">#Barrow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Congrats?src=hash">#Congrats</a> <a href="https://t.co/a1mRL4D7ll">https://t.co/a1mRL4D7ll</a> <a href="https://t.co/A1Z7pw90be">pic.twitter.com/A1Z7pw90be</a></p>— Natalie Chapples (@nchapplesNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchapplesNWEM/status/900766429322125313">August 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Year Seven starters have joined the other year groups back at St Bernard's this week. Mr Croft wants St Bernard's to keep building on its successes to ensure all students are happy and reach their potential.

He said: "I feel privileged to be the headteacher, it is a big honour. There is a big task ahead because students are too important for a school to stand still. We are always trying to innovate, move things forward and ensure our students get what they need to have happy and successful lives."

Mr Croft said the school looks to improve on and maintain high standards.

"We have an increased focus on standards and values, it covers not only the academic side but also the well-being side.

"We are not an exam factory, far from it, we want students to grow up to be rounded human beings and that is our values.

"I want St Bernard's to be a great school, and it already is in many ways. People talk about our lovely happy family at St Bernard's and I want that to continue," he said.

Year Seven are settling in well at St Bernard's. Ellis Heywood, 11, said: "It was less daunting than I thought it would be. It's easy to make friends. The atmosphere is friendly and warm, I like it."

Adam Brand, 11, said: "The older pupils are showing us where to go. It's a friendly school, everyone is nice. I've been making new friends."

All schools are battling issues such as the cuts, changes to the curriculum, exams and grade boundaries.

Mr Croft said: "Hopefully the fair funding formula will come in and return money to Northern schools."