The principal of Isambard School has hailed the final cohort of student's successes before it becomes Abbey Park School this September.

The final cohort of Isambard Year 11 students received their GCSE results today. With the school set to become Abbey Park School in just over a week’s time, these results are the first public examinations since the school entered into a partnership with Lydiard Park Academy.

Operational principal, Jon Young, said: "The results show that the school has made a fantastic amount of progress since the partnership began last November, with a massive 12 per cent rise in the proportion of pupils gaining a ‘standard pass’ or better in both English and mathematics. This is despite having to sit the new the new toughened GCSE examination papers in both subjects.

"This means that 71 per cent of pupils gained a band 4 or higher in both English and mathematics, which shows that higher standards of teaching and learning are now in place at the school."

There were many impressive individual performances, including Michael Chiu who achieved two 9s, an 8, eight A*s and an A grade; Oliver Dunmore achieved two 7s, a 9, four A*s and three A grades; while Rowan Maddock achieved two 9s a 7, four As and three Bs.

Sam Evans achieved two 6s, a 9, six As, and an A*; Hassan Naqvi achieved a 7, two 9s, five A*s, and two As; Sam Mitchell was awarded two 7s, a 9, four A*s and three As, while Ella Sandhu achieved a 7, a 6, a 9, an A* and six A grades.

Mr Young, who took over the reins at the school in November, said: “I am delighted with how staff and students have worked to improve the school, and these excellent results are testament to how much progress has been made.

"I am pleased that the last cohort of Isambard students have got the kind of grades that will allow them to progress to the next stage of their journey, and everyone is now excited as to what Abbey Park School can now go on and achieve for the pupils of North Swindon."