TAYA Lewis was looking at an F in English two years ago but yesterday she discovered she had achieved a stunning A* equivalent.

The Royal Wootton Bassett Academy pupil attributed her amazing turnaround to the inspiration offered by teacher Meg Williamson.

“She just made the lessons more fun so all the kids remembered it all,” she said.

Her grandmother Margaret Comerford made the trip all the way from Northumberland to be with her on results day and she and Taya’s mother Naomi Redman were overcome at her grade 8 in English literature and grade 6 in English language

“She was an F two years ago. Her teacher has done this. She inspired her and did lots of work with her after school,” said Naomi.

The family is planning a trip to Rome to celebrate and Taya is moving on to New College to study A-level English, sociology and psychology.

Head George Croxford was delighted with the school’s results. “They are the best results the school’s ever had and follow an excellent set of A-levels.”

In the new maths exam the school recorded 79 per cent level 4 upwards while the figure was 86 per cent in English.

“We’re really thrilled with that. A huge amount of hard work has gone in from students and staff,” he said. Parents had also been incredibly supportive.

It had been a hard year. “The exam boards would not say what the grade boundaries were going to be.”

Staff were trying to push the pupils but it was difficult when they were unable to predict grades.

But he was pleased to see large number of his pupils leaving the building with beaming faces.

“You can see how nervous they look going in,” he said. “One of the amazing things is seeing students and the teachers who have both studied for maths and English and they are both thrilled.”

Ross Wardle was delighted with his grade 9 in maths, the equivalent of A*. “I knew I could probably get an eight and I got a seven in English which is the best I have ever got,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was that much harder than the old mocks. It was more wordy but I think that’s the bit I was better at – problem solving.”

He is going to New College to do maths, computer science and film and TV. “I want to go into video but I’ll be happy with anything I enjoy,” he added.

Bethany Moore’s mum Natasha was nervous but found she had reason to celebrate especially when she saw her daughter’s English result – the subject she found most difficult. “She had six months of private tuition. She wanted to pass English but she got a grade 7 which is an A.