Nearly a third of The John Bentley School students exceeded expected levels of progress when their GCSE results were released earlier today.

After a series of changes to the year 11 qualifcation this year, 63% of students at the school achieved 5 A*-C grades, excluding English and Maths.

The school’s Principal, Laura Carleton, said, “It is wonderful to see that so many students have achieved the grades they need to access their choice of Post 16 courses, and that so many of them have chosen to do that here in our highly successful Sixth Form.”

Student Caoimhe Kelly managed 6A*, 5As, 1B and 1 Distinction* in her GCSEs but also picked up an A in AS-level statistics and said: “I’m very very happy – and relieved.”

Caoimhe, who also competes in synchronized swimming for the county, plans to study maths, further maths, physics and drama at the school’s sixth form.

Fellow student Emily Ramsay also picked up a C in AS statistics to go with her 5A*, 5A, 2Bs at GCSE level.

She said: “I’m really pleased. I found them okay, I always put the effort in, and I rewrote my notes so many times.”

In the key subjects, the school had 65% of students record an A*-C in maths and 58% A*-C in English, the national average for the subjects were 62.4% and 61.7% respectively.

Antony Blackmore, Guidance Leader for Year 11, said: “These are an incredibly positive set of results.

“I feel very proud that all their efforts have paid off and wish them well in the next stage of their educational journey.

“It’s fantastic to see so many happy people, they deserve it.”

There were also excellent results for Reaze Enright, 2A*, 6As, 1 distinction* and a B in AS statistics as well as Oscar Bruce (1A*, 8As, 1B) and Betsy Ervine (4A*, 4As, 3Bs) who both managed C grades in AS statistics.

Reaze, who is moving to Royal Wotton Bassett to study A-levels in maths, further maths, English literature and physics, said: “I’m really pleased; the A in English, I was not expecting it at all.”