GREENDOWN Community School has matched last year’s record GCSE performance with more than half of pupils achieving at least five A* to C grades.

Staff at the school in Grange Park, which has about 140 Year 11 students, were delighted with the results because the group was not expected to perform as well.

Headteacher Clive Zimmer-man said: “This year group wasn’t predicted to do as well but the pupils have matched last year’s record results and that I think makes it our best ever performance.

“The predictions we got from the government suggested this lot would get six or seven per cent less so for them to get the same as last year is a fantastic set of results.

“They have worked so hard through Year 11. The staff have done a brilliant job, but the pupils themselves have really got the bit between their teeth and done it.”

More than 60 per cent of pupils achieved passes in five GCSEs at grades A* to C.

Mr Zimmerman disputed claims that the exams have become easier, instead pointing out that they have changed.

“They have changed but I don’t think it is as simple as them getting easier or not,” he said.

“This year, for example, is the first year where coursework hasn’t been allowed in maths so I can say with certainty that the maths GCSE is harder.”

Amy Kingston, 16, from Freshbrook, is off to New College after achieving two A*s, two As, five Bs, two Cs and one D.

She said: “I am really happy. I thought I was going to fail maths but I didn’t. I worked hard over both two years. I have always wanted to go to university so I have to work hard to get that.

“Some of the exams were tough. My chemistry exam was moderately hard but others I thought were quite easy, so there was kind of a mixture.”

Faye Millin, of Grange Park, is thought to be among the highest achieving Greendown pupils, with three A*s, seven As and one B.

She is starting her AS Level courses at New College next month.

“I am over the moon. I knew I was predicted quite high grades but I was not expecting so many As and A*s,” said the 16-year-old.

“I started my revision quite early and I worked to get my coursework to the highest grade I could just in case I didn’t do as well in the exams.

“But the most important thing is I have always had my sights set on university and I have always kept in my mind what I need to get.”