THE Priory School’s headteacher praised his students’ hardwork, but called on all headteachers to challenge a “depression” of English results.

The Hitchin school had a great year, with 58 per cent of students gaining five or more A*-Cs with English and maths. Ninety-seven per cent of students got five or more A*-Gs, and students particularly excelled in maths this year, with 73 per cent of students getting A*-C grades.

Headteacher Peter Loach said: “This is a lovely time of year when we see our students, colleagues and parents enjoy the fruits of their hard work.”

But he added: “Regrettably, I feel professionally bound to deplore this government’s belief that ‘all cannot have prizes’, revealed on this occasion through a calculated depression of English results nationally.

“Headteachers around the country need to challenge these results and the muddle about so-called ‘grade inflation’.”