TOUGHER GCSEs inspired students at Haslemere and surrounding schools to do even better.

Pupils were praised for achieving an excellent crop of results at Woolmer Hill and The Royal School, Haslemere, Rodborough, School, Milford, King Edward’s Witley and St Edmunds, Hindhead, among others.

At Woolmer Hill, 89 per cent achieved grade 4+ (formerly C) and 77 per cent gained grade 5 and above, and Rodborough reported record results, with 40 students awarded 8 or more GCSEs at grade 7 (formerly A) and 25 attaining 10 or more at grade 7 - outstanding student Daphne Pleming got grade 9 (formerly A*) in all 12 of her GCSEs.

The Royal School students also reached new heights, with more than double the national average gaining grades 7 up to 9. A total of 37 per cent gained 7 to 9 - an increase of 2 per cent on 2017.

Also bucking the national trend, every Year 11 King Edward’s Witley student gained at least five grades 4 up to 9 with standout Grayshott pupil Ben Dowson achieving seven grade 9s and five grade 7s.

At St Edmund’, 25 per cent achieved nine or more GCSEs at grades 7 to 9 and 42 per cent of Year 10 pupils sitting GCSEs early attained grades 7 to 9.

*For full report and more pictures see next week’s Herald