GCSE results celebrations

Anna Vlasova, 16, from Chelmsford County High School, got an incredible 12 A* GCSE grades Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

In Hackney, 84% of Mossbourne academy's first GCSE intake got five or more A*-C grades Photograph: Anna Gordon

The academy opened on the site of the former Hackney Downs – a school once branded the worst in Britain Photograph: Anna Gordon

In Brighton, Katie Siegle is congratulated on 7 A*s and 3 As by her mother Philippa after receiving her GCSE results at Brighton College Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Nathania Hall celebrates with her mother Jo after receiving a full set of A*s Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Among those celebrating were some young high-achievers. Eight-year-old Xavier Gordon-Brown got grade A in Maths Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

Xavier Gordon-Brown with Escha Shah and Tashan Artigoda Barnet, both 7, who got C grades in ICT Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

Seven year old Jude Alli from London celebrates his GCSE maths pass Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Sephu Jayakumar and Tayla McCloud from Chelmsford County High School check their GCSE results, both getting 10 A*s across all subjects Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

Katlin Horner shares the relief felt by many after opening her results envelope Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Sharmani Clark and Samantha Crumpton leap for joy at Badminton School Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

Pupils celebrate together at Brighton College Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA