RESULTS day provided a dream ending after a summer of nightmares for Lorrissa Farrell.

Highworth Warneford’s top scoring pupil was overwhelmed to achieve two grade 9s, seven A8s and a grade 8, meaning that all her GCSE results were A* or equivalent.

She said: “I have been having nightmares about this all summer. It has been very stressful,”

“I had lots of suppressed emotion when I was taking the exams, but I’m really happy. I had great teachers,” she added.

Lorrissa is off to Cirencester College next month to study physics, chemistry, biology and computer sciences with the aim of becoming a vet or doctor.

Head girl Ramisa Ishita was also pleased with her two grade 9s, three A*s, one grade 8 and five As.

“This is so much better than I imagined,” she said. “I was so worried about the new exams, they were so difficult, but the fact I managed to get good grades just shows the hard work of the teachers.”

Two grade 9s, six A*s, one grade 8 and three As also mean Zoe Martin’s scholarship place at St Clare’s in Oxford is safe. “I’m very, very happy,” she said.

Others who did well included Aaron Cronje-Jarvis who earned one grade 9, five A*s, two 8s and two As and Laurence Cannon who scored one grade 9, three A*s one grade 8, one 7, four As and a B.

Outgoing headteacher John Saunders, who is retiring after 22 years, was delighted with the grades. “These outstanding results reflect the hard work of the pupils and staff as well as the excellent support we receive from parents and governors.”

A total of 30 per cent of all pupils achieved grades seven to nine in English, which he said was a tremendous achievement against the increasingly difficult criteria of the new style GCSEs.

Some of the top scorers were in the top four per cent in the country.

“In English and maths they have had no coursework which they have had in the past.” There were also few past papers for them to look at.

And because the grading system is new it is it has been difficult for staff to work out what their pupils need to do to get the best grades.

“I’m just pleased that the school has got such a good set of results. I’m leaving the school in a strong position for the future.”

“I’ll miss results day, I’ll mist all the people, the pupils and the staff,” he added.