IN the first year that GCSE results in English and mathematics are awarded by number rather than letters, Frensham Heights students have secured excellent results.

More than 25 per cent of exams in these subjects secured grade 7 and above. Seven per cent of these were awarded grade 9, a result that media reports indicate will be awarded to just two to three per cent of students nationally.

Headmaster Andrew Fisher said: “I am so proud of our students. Behind the cold statistics, there are individual students who have done themselves very proud.”

Two students, Izzy and Claire, both secured three grade 9s each, a grade that exam board AQA explained would be set at a level above the current A* and awarded to ‘only the very highest performing students’.

Between them, Izzy, who joined Frensham in year seven and Claire, who joined in year nine, also secured 14 A*s and one A. Both are going through to Frensham’s Sixth Form to study for their A-levels.

Overall, 93 per cent of students were awarded grade 4 and above, closely equivalent to the previous grade C and above.

Alongside English language, English literature and mathematics, there were some very strong performances in several other subjects – with physics achieving 83 per cent A*A, fine art achieving 72 per cent A*A and more than 50 per cent of all students in biology, chemistry, dance, photography and German all achieving these top grades.

“Yet again, our results reflect the wonderfully broad range of subjects taken by Frensham students,” added Mr Fisher.

“It is so exciting to see a child who is a top maths student, for example, joining Frensham and finding an equal love for and ability in one of our creative subjects – or vice versa.

“The variety of choice and the fact that all subjects are treated equally at Frensham means our students can really discover what they’re passionate about – and I know from countless former students that this passion serves them very well in their future careers.”