Ref. 71933-84 In the front,Chris CarltonGCSE RESULTS: Ridgeway School's headteacher has praised her students for caring about "the wider areas of life" while still achieving excellent academic results.

A group of students at the Wroughton school have raised £5,252 towards the £10,000 needed to build two classrooms at a school in Kwazulu Natal, in South Africa.

Head Elizabeth Cooper said: "To do this at the same time as demanding GCSE studies make them a very well-balanced group of individuals.

"The year 11 results reflect the commitment of pupils and teachers at the school and today is the day to acknowledge their effort and achievement.

"GCSEs are just as challenging as ever and reflect the efforts and dedication of students and staff and the support of parents."

Katherine Henman, 16, of Wanborough got two A*s, six Bs and two Cs.

She said: "I am kind of disappointed with one grade but really pleased with the A*s."

Katherine, who wants to be an architect, achieved these grades while heavily involved in the African fundraising for the Free the Children charity.

She said: "We organised band nights, non-uniform days and a race night with the Rotary Club."

Samuel Gamper, 16, of Chiseldon was involved in another fund-raising exercise.

With friends he raised £250 towards a bench and a tree in memory of Volodimir Gawluk, a pupil at the Wroughton school who died from leukaemia last year.

Samuel gained one A*, four As and seven Bs, as well as the GNVQ in IT.

He said: "I'm ecstatic. Really happy. I'll go on to the sixth form now, and I hope to do some kind of engineering at university."

Hamish Baxter, 16, of Wrough-ton, got one A*, five As and four Bs, together with the GNVQ in IT.

He said: "I'm really pleased. It's what I was aiming for. I rang my mum and she's really happy."

Hamish now plans to do A-levels on his way to becoming either a journalist or a lawyer.

Chris Carlton, 16, of Westlea, got three A*s, six As and one B.

He said: "I feel very pleased. I was hoping for these kind of results but I'm not sure if I expected them.

"Next year I'll be doing five AS levels, but these results might help to open doors for the future."

Jessica Offer, 16, of Wanbor-ough, got three A*s, five As and two Bs.

She said: "I'm glad because I got the same results as my brother. There's a bit of competition there.

"When I rang my dad I could hear him shouting the results around the office."

Andrew Morgan, 16, of Abbey Meads, may well have been inspired by the Ridgeway teachers, but his motivation was at least partly financial.

He said: "My parents are paying me £50 for a C grade, £75 for a B and £150 for an A."

He gained one A*, five Bs and eight Cs, and says that he will save the money he earned with yesterday's results.