Two students, from Cornwall, who live on the same road, are celebrating being two of the top students in the world, having scored 45 and 44 points respectively on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma at Truro College.

Anna Garman and Mahala Smith didn’t even know each other until they started at Truro College, despite living a stone’s throw apart in St Agnes, having gone to different secondary schools.

"It’s a coincidence!" said Anna. "It’s weird," adds Mahala.

"We’ll try to stay in touch from here and meet up while we’re at Uni."

Anna’s full-marks score of 45, equivalent to five A-stars at A Level, makes her one of the very top students on the planet.

She said: "It’s really surreal.

"It hasn’t sunk in.

"I chose the IB as it gave me flexibility. I’d like to thank my lecturers, especially Helen, my Spanish lecturer, and Angie, the IB Co-ordinator."

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Anna has been offered a place at UCL to do International Social Political Sciences but might defer for a year to undertake a ski instructor course in Canada.

Mahala said: "It’s a good feeling to get a good result, it shows the work paid off.

"I’d like to thank everyone for their help. I have had a lot of support."

She is now headed to Bath University to study Psychology.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is an alternative to A Levels where students study six subject options and additional components, allowing them to keep their university options open.

Truro College has been rated as the top non-selective state provider of the IB Diploma in the UK on The Times Parent Power List for the last four years.

Angie Liversedge, IB Coordinator at the College, said: "Despite this IB cohort having had to deal with some profound challenges over the past two years, personally, nationally and globally, they have achieved some outstanding results.

"They have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and perseverance and have exemplified the very best qualities of the International Baccalaureate student by being compassionate, open-minded, principled and reflective learners.

"I am incredibly proud of them."