WILMSLOW High School headteacher James Pulle has congratulated students for rising to the challenge of the reformed GCSEs.

“We are delighted with the results for the first reformed GCSEs, with their more challenging subject content and new 9-1 grading scale,” said Mr Pulle.

“Today brings the culmination of three years of planning, study and practice for students and staff.

“These reformed GCSEs have brought significant changes in subject content, examination processes and the grading system.

“They have been introduced by the Government at a high pace, and there have only been a limited number of specimen examination papers for students to practice and staff to mark.

“As these results show, our school community has risen to the challenge impressively.

“Year 11 have heard much from us about having high expectations in terms of work ethic and being determined to push performance beyond personal bests.

“Very well done to the students for the character they have shown throughout, and a big thank you to the staff for their commitment to the pursuit of excellence.”

With 80 per cent of Wilmslow High School students gaining a grade 4 or above in English language, 83 per cent in English literature and 78 per cent in mathematics, performance in the key threshold of Level 2 English and mathematics has improved to 76 per cent.

A total of 29 per cent of students gained a grade 7 or above in English language, 30 per cent in English literature and 28 per cent in mathematics.

For the new highest grade 9s – 13 were awarded in English language, 22 in English literature and 16 in mathematics. These figures represent performance that is at least double the national average.

Ruth Powley, deputy headteacher, said: “We are incredibly proud of all of our students for their hard work and achievements.

“The vast majority of our students took full opportunity of the wide range of exam preparation opportunities that we offered in the run-up to the exams, and it is fantastic to see their efforts pay off.”

Director of English, David Spence said: “We are delighted with the way our Year 11 students have responded to the challenge of the new English language and literature GCSEs.

“Alongside many excellent results across these two English examinations, there were a total of 35 Grade 9s, the new grade designed to recognise the very highest performing students across the whole country.”

To attain grade 9 in all three subjects of the new 9-1 GCSE grading system is an exceptional achievement.

“For almost one per cent of this year group to perform at this level is remarkable. Our particular congratulations therefore go to Jacinta Kynaston, Megan Skidmore and Conor Smith.”

The following students achieved seven or more GCSE grades of 9 to 7 of A*A.

Dennis Acreman, Finley Aitken, Patrick Bartlett, Emma Boxer, Maximilian Breitwieser, Juliet Cook, Jessica Coulson, Tenniel Cowen, James Craft, Harry Craven, Molly Croft, Samantha Daniel, Angelina Ellacott, Olivia French, Emily Gaskin, Madison Gill.

Lucy Greig, Samuel Hawtin, Harrison Hirst, Freya Hogg, Amber Jarvis, Grace Kerner, Charlotte Kraunsoe, Jacinta Kynaston, Sophie Lawlor, Emma Leask, Amelia McDonald, Rebecca Moss, Rachel Mulroy, Bethan O’Malley, Luke Peart, Nathan Pugh, Paula Quiroz.

Amy Revell, Billy Senior, Sara Shaanoun, Georgia Sherrington, Emily Short, Megan Skidmore, Isobel Sloyan, Conor Smith, Eve Smith, Amelia Storer, Rebecca Thorley, Anna Walton, Max Waterfield, Joshua Wheeler, Oliver Whitham, Jacques Yon.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to see some of the excellent art and design work produced by the school’s GCSE and A-Level students in the exhibition being held at the United Reform Church as part of the Wilmslow Art Trail during the weekend of October 13 to 15.

The school added: “In addition to high performance in competitions and fixtures, the school’s sports specialism also promotes high achievement in the qualifications we offer: BTEC Sport – 81 per cent of grades equivalent to A*C; GCSE PE – 90 per cent of grades at A*C with 44 per cent at A*A.”

The following subjects have all seen more than 25 per cent of the grades achieved at A*A or 9-7 - Additional Maths, computer science, dance, drama, English language, English literature, food technology, French, geography, German, history, mathematics, PE, RE, Spanish, statistics, textiles.

More than 75 per cent of all examination results in the three separate sciences were at A*A grade: biology – 78 per cent; chemistry – 76 per cent; physics – 81 per cent.

The following English Baccalaureate humanities and language subjects all saw more than 78 per cent of grades achieved at A*C: French, geography, German, history, Spanish.