With changes to the GCSE exams being implemented this year, expectations were uncertain but there was plenty of celebration at all of the schools.
At Chepstow School, 70 per cent of students gained at least five A* to C grades including the new English and Maths qualifications.
At Wyedean School and Sixth Form Centre, which falls under a new English system, 73 per cent of all students obtained the equivalent of at lest five A* to C including English and Maths which is up eight per cent on 2016.
At Caldicot School the cohort achieved more than 500 A*/A grades between them.
It was a proud morning for Chepstow School, headteacher Claire Price said: “l am incredibly proud of the results of all of our students this year.
“During a time of great change in the qualifications system our students have risen to the challenges set and achieved outstanding grades across all subjects.”
In particular the students excelled in the brand new GCSE English Language, where 83 percent of the cohort achieved grades A* to C, with 32 per cent achieving at A*/A, and in the new Maths GCSE where 79 per cent of the cohort gained A* to C grades.
Some of the top performing students included Molly Van Buren, who achieved 10 A*s and two As
Sam Morse achieved seven A*s and three As, Grace Nicholls, gained six A*s and six As while Isabelle Roberts received six A*s and five As.
Records were broken at Wyedean Sixth and Form Centre under what was said to be a tougher new system in England.
The numbers of students achieving both English and Maths was 75 per cent with around a fifth of Year 11 achieving five A* to A grades or equivalent.
18 students received eight or more A* to A equivalents, these included Maya Tyrrell, Cerys Williams, Abbie Hayes, Thomas Blore, Carlie Bailey, Samuel Thomas, Jade Storey, Kiara Smith, Carys Player, Beth Jenkins, Declan Boyle, John Barber, Megan Napper, Richard McNamara, Olivia Kilby, Eve Jones, Eleanor Flack and Matthew Corney.
Also, despite national concerns that the new top grade of 9 was unobtainable under the new numerical grading in English and Maths, a number of students at the school received a 9.
Principal, Rob Ford said: “This is a tremendous year group and what they, their teachers and parents have endured implementing these new GCSEs is astonishing. I am proud of them and there are so many great stories of real determination, drive and success.”
The students at Caldicot School also took on the new examinations and deputy headteacher Simon Rees praised their efforts.
He said: “We are very pleased with how well our young people have risen to the challenges of the new curriculum. Today’s results are due to a three way commitment between staff, pupils and parents.
“These new examinations test a differing skill set and knowledge base than the previous examinations. Therefore this year’s results cannot be meaningfully compared to last year’s results.”
One of the notable results was that of twins Adam and Sara Williams who received five As and an A* and nine A*s respectively.
Local students attending schools elsewhere also tasted success, Wycliffe College pupil Ella Kitching was one of the few in the country to achieve a triple grade 9 - the top score in the new GCSE results.
The 16-year-old is one of 0.4 per cent of pupils in England to receive the top grades in English Language, English Literature and Maths.
While one of the top performers at the Monmouth School for Boys was Jack Tottem, from Devauden, who both achieved 11 A*s and a 9 in English.
See next week’s Beacon (30rd August) for more.