Truro School students once again achieve outstanding GCSE results, hot on the heels of the release of this year’s excellent A Level grades.

Over half of all grades awarded at GCSE were A* or A, with nearly one quarter at the top A* standard. Thirteen academic departments had over half of their grades at A* or A. Overall, 94 per cent of all exams were graded A* to C with the success is spread across the arts, humanities, languages and sciences.

An outstanding 20 per cent got a full set of A* or A grades with 14 students achieving eight or more A* grades. Jamie Craze and Matthew Johns both achieved 12 A* grades. Jamie, who is currently training at a fencing camp in Hungary, said: “I put a lot of effort into my GCSEs and I was definitely hoping for good grades, but I’m a little surprised at getting 12A*s. I’m currently in Hungary on a fencing training camp for one week and I fly back on Saturday when I will celebrate with my family. Next year I am planning to continue studying at Truro School Sixth Form. I have no idea on what I want to do for a career yet, I’ve just picked the subjects I enjoy the most and will continue with them at A Level.”

Caitlin Maxwell and Maria Chart, another two of Truro School’s top ranked GB fencers, achieved 11 A*s and ten A*s and A grade respectively.

The sciences continue to do well, led by the school’s geology department where 72 per cent of the grades were at A* or A. Two thirds of the first cohort of students studying electronics achieved an A* or A grade. The modern languages department was also in the spotlight with 13 linguists awarded two or more A or A* grades across French, Spanish and German.

The school’s drama students also impressed with 83 per cent A* or A grades; the memory of their practical devised theatre pieces is still resonant as they prepare for their Edinburgh Festival Fringe premiere production, Academy of Risk. Sophia Thompson said, “I’m really pleased with my results. In drama I was one mark off 100 per cent and got an A*. I also achieved an A in music followed by seven Bs and two Cs. I am now going to stay at the sixth form and study English, music and drama."

Headmaster Andrew Gordon-Brown spoke to parents and students as they came and collected results. Now in his third year at Truro School, he said: “I am beginning to run out of superlatives to describe the continuing and impressive success of the students at Truro School, who never cease to amaze me with the breadth and depth of their achievements.

"Last Thursday and today has given me the opportunity to share successes not only with the students but with their parents who continuously support their sons and daughters in so many different ways – in the audience, on the side-lines and with those late night revision snacks.

“The results from today bode well for the Sixth Form in September, where so many of our fifth year students are staying on to study with us - joined by many new students from across the county and beyond.”