Friends’ School saw an increase of students with top grades but also a slight drop in its overall A-levels results.

The Saffron Walden school had 28 per cent of its sixth form students achieving A* and A grades, up from 23 per cent last year. However the percentage of A* to C grades fell from 88 per cent last year to 85 per cent this year.

There was also a drop in students achieving A* to B to 50 per cent of students this time around compared to 58 per cent in 2014, and also the overall pass rate this year to 98 per cent from 100 per cent last year.

The school said top grades were achieved were in English literature, German, art, maths and geography.

Headteacher Anna Chaudhri added: “Our students deserve great credit for all their hard work and it is good to see that this enables them to take the next step on their various career paths. I am delighted with their achievement and grateful to an excellent teaching staff who always go the extra mile to ensure the success of their students.”

James Cross will attend Harper Adams University, in Shropshire, this September to study off road vehicle design after achieving his required grades.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to getting started on the course and moving down there next month.”

Jessica Guest, who has been at Friends’ since she started nursery at the school aged three, achieved her place at the University of Birmingham to study marketing management.

She said: “I’m pleased and very excited to begin my course.”

Newcastle University is the destination for Claudia McCrea, after the youngster achieved her required A-levels in biology, chemistry, and religious studies. Claudia will begin her biochemistry degree in the north-east this September.

She said: “I’m really glad I got the place I wanted at university.”