With almost 30% of students gaining five or more A*-A grades and 40% gaining three or more of the top grades, there was much to celebrate for John Kyrle's Year 11 students when the GCSE results were announced.

The school had more than 60% of students gaining A*-C grades in English and Maths and a record 76% achieving A*- C passes.

Notable successes included Mark Alston with 9 A*s and 2As passes; Eddie Gill with 9 A*s and 1 A; Phoebe Mills with 8 A*s and 3As; Rebecca Ralphs with 8 A*s and 3As; Natasha Scowen with 8A*s and 2As; Tania La Gambina with 8A*s and 2As; George Gooch with 6A*s and 3As and Hannah Fishwick with 4A*s and 5 As.

Also, Ben Ray, Herefordshire's Young Poet Laureate, gained 8 A* and 2 A grades including, as expected, A* grades in both English Language and Literature.

Nigel Griffiths, Headteacher, said he was particularly pleased with the progress made by the school's more able cohort and the fact that, although girls outperformed boys, the gender gap had narrowed even with unusually far more boys in the year group.

He said that the school continued to enter students for traditional GCSE courses with little reliance upon so called equivalent qualifications and this would be recognised in the government's performance tables to be published in the new academic year.

Mr Griffiths added, "In addition to praising our students, I want to pay special credit to their families for all the support they continue to show both their sons and daughters and the school. Our positive partnership with families is a cornerstone of the school's continued