STUDENTS in East Lancashire are edging nearer to the national average for five GCSE passes.

As East Lancashire students celebrated some record results, their schools hit back at critics saying the exams have got easier.

In Blackburn with Darwen borough, schools collectively chalked up a 58per cent pass rate for five GCSEs at A* to C, up 6.5per cent on last year.

Although that is still a few points behind the national average of 63.3per cent, by just 0.9per cent the progress has been applauded by teachers and the council alike.

Lancashire county council's overall pass rate has yet to be collated but are expected to equal or exceed last year' results.

Coun Chris Thayne, executive member for children's services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "I'm sure there are a lot of delighted young people in our borough because the GCSE results are stunning.

"We have seen a significant increase in performance this year. Even including English and maths at GCSE, which is the government's gold standard' this year, the rise is an impressive 4.5% , taking us to 43%.

At Blackburn's Witton Park High School and Business and enterprise Colege, headteacher Gwen Onyon dismissed the familiar criticism that now accompanies annual rises in national pass rates.

Mrs Onyon, whose students exceeded their target of 46per cent getting five A* to Cs, with a total of 55per cent, said: "Our students have made fantastic progress, particularly since they began at school.

"We have many more A* and A grades this year, and it's nothing to do with exams getting easier, it's to do with sheer determination to get high grades.

"The pressure on young people nowadays is massive, and I personally think O levels were easier because you can't just cram for GCSEs."

There were euphoric scenes at nearby Pleckgate High School, where students broke all previous records.

Robin Campbell described himself as a "delighted and very proud headteacher" after students gained 53per cent at five A* to C grades.

Blakewater College was celebrating after chalking up a 68per cent rate at five A* to Cs, a rise of 15per cent on last year, and a massive 57per cent rise from 2005.

Lee Harris, who was brought in as a "superhead" to revive the troubled school, said: "It's great to have consistent improvements, and it's down to the students now believing that they can succeed."

Unprecedented results were also toasted at Accrington schools.

At Hollins Technology College, students had 61per cent achieving five or more A* - C, and Accrington Moorhead headteacher Andrew Bateman praised his staff and students for a massive improvement, with every single year 11 pupil leaving with at least one GCSE, and 61 per cent getting five A* to C, a 41per cent rise from 2005.

In the independent sector, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School attained 90.7per cent of A* to C grades, with almost half of all grades at A* or A, and at nearby Westholme, it was smiles all round with an impressive 98 per cent getting five A* to C. In Waterfoot, Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School continued to shine, with a 97.1per cent pass rate, with all students passing five at A* to C.

Elsewhere in Rossendale schools were celebrating some of their best results yet.

Results at Alder Grange Community and Technology College in Rawtenstall, showed another increase in the number of pupils getting five passes or more, to 95per cent, and a rise in the number of A* grades, while John Ferguson, headteacher of Whitworth Community High School said of their best results yet: "This rounds off a fantastic year for Whitworth - the first one for me as headteacher."

The employer-led specialist diplomas have been developed as part of government efforts to broaden the curriculum for 14 to 19 year olds and make learning more relevant to the world of work.