IT was inevitable that after a year of tremendous GCSE improvements across the city in 2008 that they could falter this year.

Most of Derby's schools have lost ground on last year, especially for five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, which is the measure that the Government uses to illustrate the success of pupils' literacy and numeracy skills.

Councillor Les Allen, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "After the very significant increases across the city last year it is a little disappointing to see that standards in GCSEs have fallen this year.

"Last year Derby was the most improved local authority in the country and it was clearly going to be a challenge to sustain the very high standard that we set last year."

One school bucking the trend was Landau Forte College, in Fox Street, which achieved its highest-ever GCSE results with 87% of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades. But the number of pupils achieving from five or more A* to C grades, including maths and English, fell from 69% to 53%.

Head Stephen Whiteley said: "We are delighted with our overall A* to C grade pass rate which is up on last year. But we will be investigating the pass rate including English and maths because our maths results have come back lower than expected. We had a number of students getting D grades who we expected to get Cs."

Landau pupil Lauren Hughes was among the students celebrating at the school after achieving eight A* grades, two As and one B. She said: "I'm really pleased. I did a lot of revision during study leave so I'm glad it's paid off now."

Pupils at Littleover Community School achieved 87% five or more A* to C grades, 76% including maths and English, up on last year's 85%. All pupils left with at least five GCSEs, including English and maths,

This included Anna Campbell, 16, who achieved 10 A*-B grades, despite having to have major heart surgery in Glenfield Hospital just before her examinations.

A record 28 pupils each gained 10 or more A* or A grades.

Head teacher David Nichols said: "I am proud that these results have been achieved without abandoning our focus on traditional academic GCSE courses which are valued by employers and universities."

Top school in the city for five or more A* to C grades with 92% was West Park School – up from 74% last year.

The school's results of five or more A* to C grades including English and maths was also up from 53% to 56%.

Celebrations were also under way at Derby Moor Community Sports College, where 68% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, 42% with English and maths. Head teacher Wendy Whelan said: "I'm really thrilled for our pupils because it's an all-time school record."

High performing pupils were deputy head girl Maddolyn Gresham and head boy Sam Packham, both 15, and with 10 A* to A grades, and Shamina Akhtar, Pamela Kaur Bolla and head girl Harpreet Heer, all aged 15, and with nine A* and A grades.

Phil Dover, head teacher at Lees Brook Community Sports College, in Chaddesden, said that he was disappointed that the five or more A* to C grade passes had fallen from 56% to 45%. He said: "But this is in line with the average prior achievement of these pupils which was not as good as that of last year's pupils.

"Other figures have held up or even improved including 23% achieved at least three A or A* grades, 20% in 2008, and 69% achieving five or more A* to C grades, which was 74% last year."

Lees Brook pupil Dan Langhor is one step closer to becoming a teacher after achieving four As, two Bs and six Cs, securing him a place at Joseph Wright College, in Derby.

The 16-year-old, of Windsor Close, Heanor, will be studying A-levels in sport, psychology, science and maths before training to become a teacher. He said: "I was a bit of a rogue when I was younger and I got in a bit of trouble at school. My teachers have been a real inspiration to me and it's because of them that I'm looking at becoming a teacher myself."

Results at Derby Grammar School, in Littleover, remained static this year with 94% of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades and 61% of all grades either A* or A grade.

Ananth Srinivasan was the school's outstanding pupil, achieving the best result of nine A* grades.

Head teacher Richard Paine said: "Just under two-thirds of our grades were A* to As which shows how hard the boys have worked."

At Chellaston School, the five or more A* to C pass rate, with maths and English, was 64% -down from 73% last year. Head teacher Ray Ruszczynski said: "English language results suffered a fall but English literature went up to 81%. Five or more A* to C grades remains at 79% with very good results in separate GCSE sciences, IT and maths.

Derby High School pupil Abigail Bramwell, 16, did well after suffering a suspected e coli illness at the start of her exams.

A school spokeswoman said: "We were all very concerned both for her health and as to whether she would be well enough to sit any of her exams.

"She was seriously ill.

"But she has shown true grit in her attitude and her eight A* and two A grades are very well deserved."

Overall,100% of pupils at the Littleover school gained five or more A* to C grades, 98% including English and maths.

At Murray Park School in Mickleover it was also a record-breaking year, with 67% of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades, 42% with English and maths.

Head teacher Eddie Green said: "This is a school record and we have exceeded our target."

At Woodlands School in Allestree, head teacher Alan Brady was pleased with the results, in which 72% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, 58% of them including English and maths but a fall from 70% last year.

Pupils with high performances at St Benedict Catholic School, Darley Abbey, included Laura Webb, 16, who achieved 11 A*s, and Catherine Vasey and Solomon White, both 16 who gained six A* and six A grades.

Overall, 60% of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades, 44% including English and maths.