A school has praised students for “better results than expected” after GCSE marks were unveiled today (August 25).

St Thomas More chairman of governors John Meadows said exam changes and new national performance indicators introduced recently meant they had been braced for upheaval and disappointment, but a 54 per cent rate of pupils getting A* to C in maths and English was cause for celebration.

He said: “I think it is difficult to compare performance year on year when there are so many changes being introduced.   

“This was a better result than the governors had been expecting and will keep us at the top of league tables.”

Despite the changes some students scored strings of A and A* grade,s including Mary Habte (4 A*s and 6 As), Rebecca Rojo Gihwet (4 A*s and 5 As) and Lydia Vacarro (2 A*s and 6As).

Head teacher Martin Tissot said: “I am very proud of the students and staff for the immense amount of effort that was made last year.  On the back of excellent A Level results last week we will continue to expand our roll to meet demand”.