WINTERBOURNE International Academy has celebrated above average results in GCSE grades again this year.

In total, 72 per cent of pupils achieved an A* to C grade in five or more subjects including English and mathematics which is above the national average of 68.8 per cent and significantly higher than the South Gloucestershire average of 55 per cent.

The academy also recorded high percentage passes in certain subjects with 81 per cent gaining at least a C grade in English language and 79 per cent in maths.

Top of the class was Xinyu Shen who managed a clean sweep of 11 A*s. The 16-year-old’s success at GCSE followed the A* she was awarded in A-level maths last week, which she took two years early.

Other successful students including Catrin Buckley and Joy Carlin, who both received nine A*s.

Principal Rob Evans told the Gazette: “Overall it is a pleasing set of results.

“They are significantly above the national average and an improvement on last year. “

He said exams had been made harder this year, leading to warnings of ‘volatility’ in results nationally.

“Clearly there has been a toughening up of the examination system,” said Mr Evans.

“Students have been aware of this and have worked very hard. We are delighted and are expecting record number of enrolment in our sixth form.”

Tilly Brogan, 16, said she was thrilled with her results, 10 As and one B.

“It was what I was expecting, except an A in art – I didn’t think I would get that,” she told the Gazette. “I got what I needed to get into sixth form and study RS, English literature and language and Spanish.

“I haven’t really thought about the results that much but it feels good now.”

Joe Sauturu celebrated his A*, six As and two Bs on the same day as his 16th birthday.

“I was trying to focus on the fact it was my birthday and not the results,” he said. “It was either going to be a really great day or a really bad one and thankfully it is really good.”