Students at Newport Free Grammar School were jumping for joy today as the academy celebrated a new ‘gold standard’ A-level record.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Newport Free Grammar School student Devon Oakley, 19, from Finchingfield, is going on to study english language and philosophy at Edinburgh.Newport Free Grammar School student Devon Oakley, 19, from Finchingfield, is going on to study english language and philosophy at Edinburgh. (Image: Archant)

The number of students achieving three grades A A B or better at A-level rose from 10 per cent to 14 per cent.

Overall the A*-C pass rate was 70 per cent, the same as last year, while the A*-E pass rate was 98 per cent, down slightly from 99 per cent in 2013.

Almost a fifth of the post-16 results were A*-A grades and nearly 50 per cent A*-B.

The results match the five-year high set last year and, according to headteacher Gordon Farquhar, “corroborate” the recent ‘Good’ Ofsted report Newport achieved for its post-16 education.

There were several outstanding individual performances and many Newport students will once again for representing the academy at some of the best universities in the UK.

Deputy head girl Keely Edwards achieved A* A A, which will see her attend Durham University to study geophysics. Louise Baker, who is looking to study medicine, got A* A* A* A, described by Mr Farquhar as “a phenomenal set of results”.

Jack Craig, leaving to study creative music technology, achieved A* A B, a set of results matched by Georgia Arundell, who will be going to Surrey to study mathematics.

Other notable performers were Emily Wolff, who is going to the University of Leeds to study politics, Devon Oakley, who will be doing philosophy at Edinburgh, and Jenna Sendall. She will be studying speech and language at the University of Reading.

In Year 12, Lydia Michaelides achieved a very impressive five A grades, the highest set of results possible at AS-level.

Mr Farquhar said: “These results are a testament to the hard work of our students and staff. They are fitting for the last cohort before the academy changes it name.

“For me, what is most important is the fantastic contribution these young people make to the world around them – they are so much more than a set of results.”

He added: “It is, however, pleasing to see their attainment matches the type of people they are and I wish them all the best for the future. I am sure I will be inviting many of them back to inspire future Newportonians!”