A BARNSLEY headteacher has defended students from the national critics who say GCSEs are getting easier.

As pupils from across the borough anxiously opened their long awaited results Matthew Milburn, head at Kingstone School, slammed critics who he says should be celebrating the achievements of pupils and not belittling them.

He said: "There is a group of people in society who want to say it is not possible humans are learning more. Look at the Olympics team - if the training and technology is better then of course you will see an improvement and that is what you see in education.

"It is shocking and outrageous that people are quick to condemns youngsters that can achieve at such high levels."

The picture shows Kingstone school pupils Gemma Wray, Sandy Taft, Lauren Bray, Bethany and Amy Turton celebrating their GCSE results.