GCSE students in Cumbria have excelled in a year which saw the introduction of a the biggest shake-up of exams for a generation.

The county looks to have bucked the national trend which largely saw pass rates dip due to new tougher exams.

As pupils opened their results today, the county was not shy of seeing the highest grades in maths, English language and English literature under the new numerical system.

These pupils were among 50,000 across the country to achieve a 9 in one of the three core subjects, with girls securing two thirds of the top marks.

Cumbria County Council said provisional results for indicate that against a backdrop of change and added challenge, Cumbria has improved outcomes this year with the number of students achieving passes in both English and maths - grade 4 or above under the new system - increasing.

It stressed however that results aren't verified until September.

Initial results also indicate that the proportion of pupils in Cumbria achieving higher grades of 7, 8 and 9 under the new system has been maintained in maths and has increased for English.

The new tougher courses feature less coursework and modular courses, where pupils sit papers throughout their studies, have been scrapped in favour of linear GCSEs where all exams are taken at the end of the two-year course.

This morning, Joel Dixon, 16, a pupil at Richard Rose Morton Academy found out he had got a 9 in his Maths GCSE.

He also scored an 8 in English literature and a 5 in English language under the new reformed exams.

Commenting on his maths result he said: "I feel really good. That is what I have been working towards over the last two years.

"It was a lot of hard work and it's a lot more problem solving. There is more content to learn and you really have to think about it when you are doing it."

His proud mum Samantha said: "I'm just so proud of him. We were hoping for a 9 and he had got it."

Newman School pupil Olivia Harris, 16, of Wetheral got a 9 in English literature, an 8 in English language and a 7 in maths. "I'm chuffed," she said.

"I didn't think I would get them. I thought I was going to have to resit.

"I still don't think it's sunk in. I think I have got the wrong paper."

Figures published by Ofqual earlier this year show that the exams regulator estimates as little as two per cent of English language entries in England will score a grade 9 - the highest result of the new numerical grading system - while three per cent of maths GCSEs are expected to gain the same result.

Fewer students will receive a grade 9 than would have received an A* under the old grading system, following the deliberate move to change the system to allow more differentiation, particularly between the brightest candidates.

But headteachers in Cumbria have reported some promising results under the new system with Keswick School "smashing all previous records."

Headteacher Simon Jackson, said: "We are absolutely delighted by the results achieved by our students, supported by a brilliant staff team.

"The results indicate a staggering improvement on our previous best, smashing all our previous records, with 30 grade 9s achieved in English and Maths, an exceptional performance."

Two of their highest achievers scored three 9s and eight A*s, and two 9s, one 8 and 9 A*s.

A grade 7 is broadly equivalent to an A under the old system, while a 4 is broadly equivalent to a C.

The Department for Education said pupils who achieve a 4 in English and maths will not have to continue studying these subjects after 16, in the same way that under the old system, those scoring at least a C did not have continue.

School performance tables will reflect schools' results in English and maths at grade 5s - considered a "strong" pass by the government.

Next summer reformed GCSEs will include the sciences, history, geography and some modern languages, with others such as art, music and drama being given grades for the first time in 2018.

Steven Throp, the school's chair of the Board of Directors, congratulated students on their "outstanding performance in producing Keswick School’s best ever exam results at GCSE."

Vicki Jackson Headteacher at Caldew School in Dalston, said they were proud of their pupils's achievements particularly in a year where there have been more changes than ever to the grading system, grade boundaries and performance measures.

"The most significant changes have been in English and mathematics and we are pleased with our results in these subjects," she said.

"I want to congratulate all of our students for these results that are a testament to their dedication, resilience and hard work.”

School leaders have warned that GCSE reforms caused teenagers more stress and anxiety, which is likely to increase as more subjects switch to the new system.

Ahead of the results, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said reformed GCSEs would leave pupils sitting more exams within a six-week summer exams season, puting them under intense pressure.

ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said: "We know from numerous reports that there is a rising tide of mental health issues among young people and we are concerned the new exams will make the situation worse.

"The new GCSEs are more challenging, and there are more papers, and this is putting severe pressure on young people.

"We support a robust qualification system, but it has to be balanced against the welfare of young people, and we are not sure the balance in the new system is correct."