Friends’ School in Saffron Walden had its best set of A-level results in three years.

Overall the A*-C pass rate jumped from 72 per cent in 2013 to 88 per cent, while 100 per cent scored A*-E grades. This was up from 95.4 per cent last year.

Twenty three per cent of grades were A* or As and 58 per cent were A*-B - a 10 per cent increase on 2013.

Top grades were well distributed across the subjects, with some good performances in mathematics, further mathematics, psychology and art.

Headteacher Anna Chaudhri said the results meant that once again almost all the students secured places at their first or second choice of university.

“This year’s results reflect the combination of hard work by all the students, who deserve our congratulations, and the dedication and consistency of teaching quality at the highest level, for which we are indebted to the teaching staff,” she said.

“I am delighted with these results, which enable our leavers to take up a variety of higher education and career choices.”