The final GCSE results day at a Workington school has been marred by missing grades.

Fifty nine pupils at Stainburn School and Science College were left without English literature grades after exam board AQA failed to return them.

The exam board admitted it had mislaid the papers from one exam.

It sent results to the school this afternoon based on pupils' achievements in the subject's other exam and coursework.

If the papers are found, they will be marked and any pupils whose grade should have been higher will have it increased.

The problem only affected pupils who sat the board's higher exam, which gave pupils the chance to achieve A* to B grades.

The lower exam carried a maximum C grade.

A spokesperson for AQA said: “On the rare occasion that a script goes missing, exam boards can still give students a result calculated on how they have performed in the other papers for that subject."

Mr Dawes said: "I'm disappointed. There will be cases where this will happen.

"We will be getting the results out to students and they can come in and get them."

Stainburn will merge with Southfield Technology College to form the new Workington Academy which will open next month.

Based on the other results received, 62 per cent of Stainburn's GCSE pupils achieving A* to C grades in maths and English, up from 60 per cent last year.

Fifty seven per cent of pupils at the school, which will officially close at the end of the month, gained at least five A* to C grades including maths and English.

A* to C grades were achieved in maths by 74 per cent of pupils and 65 per cent reached the grades in English.

Mr Dawes said: "We are really pleased. They are really well prepared for going to sixth form or on to apprenticeships and Workington Academy looks forward to welcoming some of them back to the sixth form."

Pupils at Southfield Technology College were also celebrating their results ahead of its formal closure alongside Stainburn's.

The school said its English results were up eight per cent on last year, while results for boys in English had improved by seven per cent and those for youngsters supported by the pupil premium were up 12 per cent.

Lorrayne Hughes, executive headteacher, said: “These results are the just rewards of the hard work, dedication, skill and teamwork of the students, staff and parents at Southfield.

"We are now looking forward to improving future results further by offering all students a broader curriculum with a wider range of exciting opportunities at the new Workington Academy.”

Beacon Hill Community School in Aspatria is celebrating a third year of increased progress.

Seventy four per cent of pupils met their progress targets for their time at secondary school in English, with 71 per cent achieving the same goal in maths.

Seventy per cent gained A to C grades in maths.

Headteacher Dave Millne said: "As always parents and carers should be really proud of the efforts and achievements of our young people.

"I'm grateful for all the hard work put in by the staff and by pupils."

Keswick School is among those celebrating record results. Students set a new record with 90 per cent achieving an A* to C grade in maths. On top of that, and matching last year’s results, 75 per cent came away with five or more A* to C grades which include English and maths.

The school, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted, has one student who achieved 11 A* grades and 21 others who are celebrating eight or more A*s and As. Every astronomy student achieved A* to C.

Headteacher Simon Jackson said: “These brilliant results are down to the efforts of our highly motivated and exceptionally talented students and staff. They reflect the ethos and values of Keswick School where hard work and perseverance are aspired to by everyone.

"Thrown into that mix is outstanding pastoral care and support, friendly competition, extra-curricular opportunities and a happy school community. That’s the basis for great academic performance.”

Cockermouth School pupils achieved an average of five A*-C in their GCSEs.

Dr Rob Petrie, headteacher, said: "The results are superb, we achieved another set of excellent results. One in six students got eight or more A* to A, it's absolutely fantastic.

"What we appreciate as a school is that this is a step for the students to get to where they want to go.

"Most of them will go on to do their A-levels and this is the result of the hard work of the students, we do push them and stretch them. We have a dedicated staff, that I can't thank enough, who are always prepared to go the extra mile and we mustn't forget the parents who are also with us as a school. The students achieved more than they expected to."

At Netherhall School in Maryport, 64 per cent of GCSE pupils achieved Bs, with 30 per cent gaining As and 10 per cent getting A*s.

Headteacher Jonathan Johnson said: “They're better results than ever before. I am pleased with the results as we have worked very hard this year to ensure that all students make at least expected progress. With both pupil premium funding and the hard work and dedication of staff and students, this has led to the gaps in English being closed and a narrowing of the gap in maths.

“I wish all our students best wishes for their future whether it be in education or employment. Our sixth form is again looking forward to a high calibre intake of students taking A-levels in September.”

At St Joseph's School in Workington, headteacher Tom Ryan said: "I'd like to congratulate all students for their hard work and effort over the last five years. They should feel proud of their achievements.

"I'm particularly pleased to acknowledge the success of the many pupils who have met or exceeded their personal targets.

"I'd also like to record my thanks to the teachers who have taught them for the past two years and the parents and guardians for their encouragement and support.

"Each year GCSE exams are being made harder to pass and place increasing demands upon students and teachers so it will always be our goal to achieve the best possible outcomes for our pupils."