Knights Templar School students have been praised for their determination to exceed expectations after picking up their A-level results this morning.

Results day at the Baldock school saw 12 per cent of Year 13 students achieving three or more top grades, with the majority being accepted onto the university of their choice.

Among the top performers was Louise Baxter, who has been described as a ‘credit to the school’ after gaining three A*s and being accepted to study veterinary medicine at Bristol University.

Deputy head girl Carys Langsdale, who not only received an A* and two As in her A-levels, but also bagged an A-grade AS level in maths, for which she was studying in her own time – she will study architectural engineering at Cardiff University.

Andrew Tse will take up his place to read chemical engineering at Bath University after achieving an A* and three A grades – along with an A-grade in AS further maths – this morning.

Neil Blyth’s grades of two A*s for maths and further maths, together with an A-grade for physics means he will take up his place to study maths at the University of Warwick.

Sports star Lauren Rule – who recently became the English school’s senior champion for 400m – combined her training and studies to bag three As, and will read law and sociology at The University of Kent.

Headteacher Tim Litchfield said: “I am truly delighted with the students’ outstanding results!

“Supported by their parents and their extremely dedicated, inspirational teachers, our students have worked with great determination to exceed our expectations.

“What makes these levels of achievement so impressive is that they were combined with an outstanding commitment to a huge range of extra-curricular activities.

“Knights Templar continues to develop well-rounded young people, prepared for the world beyond school. Congratulations to all our students and we wish them every success for the future.”

Gill Hopkins, who is head of Sixth Form, said: “This group of students has really impressed me and I am delighted with the considerable progress that students of all abilities have made in our sixth form.

“Their achievements exceeded our expectations and they deserve many congratulations!

“The majority of students have secured places at their first-choice universities and we wish them all every success for the future.”