There were tears of joy at St John's in Marlborough this morning as year 11 students picked up their GCSE results.

An impressive 79 per cent of pupils achieved A*-C grades with 63 per cent gaining A*-C including maths and English.

Principal Patrick Hazlewood said: "Once again our congratulations go to all our year 11 students and our thanks to everyone in the community who has helped them: parents, teachers,support staff and families.

"We know that these exams are being toughened up and our students' determination to succeed is a great testament to them.

"We are proud of how all our students have developed over the last five years, from those who have achieved so many top grade to those who have battled through difficult personal circumstances to secure a college place or to gain an apprenticeship.

"We wish all of them the best of luck wherever their education continues."

There were 27 students who achieved at least 10 A* or A grades including Moira Connor, Darla Dryland, Rosie Good, Isabella Guillaume, Tom Knighton, Becki Nash, Luke Shields, Olivia Snell, Amba Tatham and Jake Whittaker who achieved at least 6A*.

Darla Dryland, who got 8A* and 3A, said: "I'm really happy. I was expecting a lot worse. I didn't think I'd get an A in maths."

Most students will stay on to study the International Baccalaureate or A-levels at St John's sixth form but others will go to various colleges to study vocational courses.

Rowan Aplin, who is going to study at a sixth form college in India, said: "I was pretty surprised with my results. I'm glad I did so well because I go to India on Saturday so that wouldn't have been a very enjoyable journey if I'd done badly."