Sedbergh School is celebrating success after 35 per cent of its pupils gained A* grades.

Headmaster Andrew Fleck said: "Sedbergh pupils sit IGCSE rather than GCSE examinations.

"Sedbergh only offers the IGCSE because it is a more rigorous assessment and is based on final exams - providing more of a challenge to the brightest students and better preparation for A Level.

"Among the most successful students this year, six gained 8A* grades or better. Our pupils are celebrating having got their heads down and worked hard. They and their teachers deserve every success for their no-nonsense approach to  disciplined study."

Tamsin Brown and Jeremy Cowen both gained 9A* grades and one A while Charlie Farmer, Jonathan Mells, Robbie Stevenson and RogerStrachan all gained 8A*s and two As.

Tamsin, from Barnard Castle, said: “I’m really pleased with my results and did a lot better than I expected.

"Waiting so long for results was torture but when I got them I was so relieved.

"Revision wasn’t always the most enjoyable thing but it paid off in the end. I had a lot to juggle because I was a first team sports player in every sport at Sedbergh last year, and I competed in and won the Northern  Regional Championship in long jump.

"It has been a great year and I'm looking forward to coming back for my sixth form now."

Tally Smith achieved 5A*s and 5As.

The school said that early analysis showed that, on average, pupils had exceeded the grades predicted by Cognitive Aptitude Tests by nearly one whole grade

Mr Fleck said: "However, it is frustrating that some extraordinary marking in Geography clouds the achievements of pupils in this subject so that we have already started the process of review through the exam board and we have already have one up-grade

"Many more pupils have gained grades of which they can be truly proud and which will set them up well for A levels."