CHANGES to the way in which some A-level subjects are assessed had created “unnecessary anxiety” amongst students, according to the head of sixth form at Rednock School.

Although an impressive 40 per cent of all grades awarded to students at the Dursley school were between A* and B, Ben Cheeseman said that the changes had impacted on results.

Grades for thirteen subjects were, for the first time, assessed solely on end-of-year exams a move, Mr Cheeseman said, had been a more challenging proposition for students.

“Undoubtedly the changes this year had impacted on students’ performance,” he said. “They found the exams hard and that created a real sense of anxiety that was rather unnecessary.

“Nevertheless we are really pleased with how everyone’s done and there are some truly brilliant results for several of our students.”

Amongst them was Harry Aldridge who resat a disappointing year 12 and went onto receive two As and a B.

“We are really proud of what our students have achieved and the way they have developed over their time at Rednock,” Mr Cheeseman added.

Other top performers include Lewis Bennett from Cam who was awarded an A in maths and Bs in physics and further maths.

After receiving the results he needed, the 18-year-old will now start a degree in bio-engineering at the University of Sheffield in September.

Thomas Wilks from Stroud also achieved the grades he needs, an A in maths and Bs in computer science and physics, to begin a degree in computer science at the University of Exeter.