AT HEATHCOTE School, 45 per cent of candidates achieved five or more top grades – the same figure as last year. Nearly 50 per cent of the girls in the year gained five or more A*-Cs and 91 per cent of all students achieved five or more A*-G grades – an 1

AT HEATHCOTE School, 45 per cent of candidates achieved five or more top grades - the same figure as last year.

Nearly 50 per cent of the girls in the year gained five or more A*-Cs and 91 per cent of all students achieved five or more A*-G grades - an 11 per cent increase on last year's figure.

Headteacher Edward Gaynor said: "Students have worked hard for these exams and we are pleased with the results they have achieved.

"There are excellent individual successes, including Danielle Linggood who gained seven As and three Bs and Terry Tasker who achieved six As.

"There are notable individual achievements across the whole range of grades. It is only right, too, that we recognise that most of our students finishing Year 11 have been through their schooling in Stevenage. .

"Our students' success is also down to the hard work and commitment of teachers in our infant and junior schools over the past 11 years and our thanks go to them."

Highest achiever Terry Tasker got six As, two Bs, a C and a D and was visibly shocked by the news. He said: "I have been dreading this day but I'm pleasantly surprised with what I have got. I worked very hard for these grades. GCSEs mean a lot to me because I want to stay on at sixth form and maybe go into law."

Andrew Jarmyn was also jubilant with his results which included two As, five Bs, two Cs and a D.

He said: "It's a real relief today because I have been so paranoid. I kept having nightmares that I was going to fail but now I can relax."

Andrew would eventually like to study medicine at university.

Jessica Murphy exceeded her expectations with one A*, two As, six Bs and a D. She said: "I'm surprised I got an A* in DT but it's my favourite subject so I'm very happy with that."

Jessica made a rocking seahorse out of wood as part of her DT exam and would like to study design at an advanced level.