Pupils at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools achieved outstanding results in this year’s GCSE and IGCSE examinations.

The results include a mixture of letter and number gradings with a new 9 considered to be a high A*, an 8 a low A*, a 7 the equivalent of an A grade, and 4 the equivalent of a C grade pass.

Hard work and dedication from the pupils and teaching staff at Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls certainly paid off.

Despite the uncertainty of the grading changes, at Monmouth School for Boys, a total of 71% of all grades were A* to A (or 9-7 on the new scale), compared to 61.9% in 2017, and 98% were A* to C (or 9-4).

Seven pupils at Monmouth School for Boys achieved the highest grade across all their subjects and over 30% of grades, awarded on the reformed 9-1 grading, were the coveted 9.

Keen rower Joseph Harrison, from Ross-on-Wye, who achieved the highest grade in 10 subjects, said: “I put a lot of work in and decided to treat my mock exams as the real thing to get a benchmark.

“I am eventually hoping to read Classics at Oxbridge, so I will be studying Maths, Further Maths, Latin and Ancient Greek at A level.”

Dr Andrew Daniel, Headmaster at Monmouth School for Boys, said: “Given that many of our boys are very actively involved in our extra-curricular programmes, this year’s results are particularly impressive.

“A total of 71% of all grades were A* to A (or 9-7 on the new scale) and seven pupils were exceptional, securing the highest possible grades in 10 subjects. The staff and pupils should be very proud of their achievements.”

At Monmouth School for Girls, almost a quarter of all grades achieved on the reformed 9-1 grading were the coveted 9.

For the girls, a total 69.3% of all grades were A* to A and 98.4% of all grades were A* to C, compared to 98.1% in 2017. Eighteen out of 22 students who sat the Additional Maths recorded a Distinction.

Three pupils at Monmouth School for Girls secured the highest grade across all their subjects, and also gained a Distinction in their Additional Maths.

Herefordshire duo, Lili Stiff, from Orcop, and Ellie Cole, both achieved the equivalent of 10 A*s.

Almost half of the reformed grades at Monmouth School for Girls were achieved at 8 or 9, with Art receiving 50% and Religious Studies 46% of all grades at 9.

Acting Head of Monmouth School for Girls, Mr Tom Arrand, said: “We are very proud that almost a quarter of all grades achieved on the reformed 9-1 grading were at the highest possible mark, 9.

“Three pupils swept the board with the highest grades possible in all their subjects, while two others achieved the equivalent of 10 A*s. It highlights the value of hard work and dedication from pupils and the teaching staff.

“With the launch of co-educational teaching from September in Monmouth Schools Sixth Form, we are very excited about the future development of girls and boys within our family of schools as they build on these impressive GCSE results and aim high for their A levels.”