Pupils at Wells Cathedral School celebrated their GCSE results today (Thursday August 22), with the vast majority of subjects assessed against the reformed, more rigorous, GCSE examination grades.

Almost half the grades awarded were the top 9-7 grades. Seventeen per cent of pupils achieved a grade 9 or A* (against a national average of 4.5 per cent) and 29 per cent of grades were awarded at grade 8 or 9. The school achieved a 99 per cent pass rate.

Just under one fifth of pupils achieved at least six or more of the two top grades, a notable improvement on last year, while 13 pupils achieved five or more 9s or A* grades, including Harry Chantrey from Draycott, Elaina Charalambous from Brighton, François Clte from Guernsey, Amber Cooknell from Winscombe, Hector Gummer from North Wootton, Katie Hastilow from Wells, Oscar Howe from Butleigh, Max Li from Bristol, Rose Ormond from Winscombe, June Rippon from Hong Kong, Amelia Watson from Shapwick, Lily Webb from Launcherley and Jeroan Yip from Hong Kong.

Wells performed well across a wide variety of subjects this year, with particular success in the three sciences, with 50 per cent achieving grade 9, and 100 per cent gaining 7-9, in chemistry, 91 per cent gaining 7-9 in physics; and 75 per cent gaining 7-9 in biology.

Bucking the national trend in modern languages, one third of the cohort gained the top grade in French and in German. English Literature results achieved a similarly high success rate.

Of the pupils who studied Latin, three quarters gained the top two grades, while half gained 8-9 in classical civilisation.

In the creative arts, music and photography pupils also achieved the same percentage of top grades.

Over a quarter of this year's cohort have specialised in music while juggling their studies, with many achieving very good academic results, while dedicating considerable time to musical performance and practice.

Other pupils have only been in the UK for a short time and have achieved significant results after only one year of study.

Many pupils have juggled academic work with other commitments in dance, drama, outdoor education such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Combined Cadet Force, or in sporting arenas, both inside and outside school.

Head master, Alastair Tighe, said: "These excellent results are, of course, the culmination of hard work by teachers and, most importantly, by pupils.

"All our pupils are to be congratulated on their achievement, and it is wonderful to be able to share in their success."