STUDENTS and staff at The Thomas Alleyne School in Stevenage are celebrating record-breaking GCSE results.

“Our learners have achieved this school’s best ever results by miles,” said delighted headteacher Jonathan Block.

“Our school is full of very happy and very successful young people.

“The school’s initial pass rate of 71 per cent grades A* to C for its 160 Year 11 students is the highest overall success rate for the school since it became co-educational 21 years ago.

“Our young people this year have done superbly.

“We’ve been stuck at 57 per cent for the past two years, so these results are a massive leap forward for our learners and for our school.”

Forty-six per cent of students achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and maths.

The highest achiever is Shireen Basra, who picked up nine A*s and three As.

Other high achievers include Rebecca Burge with six A*s, five As and one B, and Daisy Hubbock, Stephanie Cox, Becci Lewis and Carly Ryan who between them secured seven A*s, 26 As and eight Bs.

For the boys, Marcus Wallis achieved two A*s, nine As and two Bs, and Sam Wheeler collected eight As, five Bs and six Cs.

Mr Block said: “We have devoted significant resources into improving teaching and learning this year.

“Now we have everything in place to carry on improving, we expect even better results next year.”