THOMAS Keble is celebrating a record year after students achieved their best set of GCSE results in the school’s 22-year history.

Headteacher Julia Maunder said she was ‘absolutely thrilled’ with this year’s marks, which saw 83 per cent of students receiving five or more A* to C grades and almost 40 per cent getting at least three As or A*s.

Ms Maunder, who only joined Thomas Keble at the start of the academic year, said she could only take limited credit for the results as she praised staff, parents and pupils for their ‘team effort’ and hard work over the past five years.

More than 66 per cent of students at the school were awarded five or more A* to C grades which included GCSE English and maths, while 25 per cent achieved five or more A or A*s.

Among the standout performers was 16-year-old Luke Jones, who obtained three A*s, four As and five Bs.

Luke, who received his A*s in maths, history and religious studies, is now planning to go on to Hartpury College to study for A-levels in maths, geography, pyschology and PE.

The teenager, who hopes to one day become a sports psychologist, said: "I am very happy with my results. It was nice to finally get them after five years of hard work."

Another star pupil was Emily Drakeley, who achieved one A*, seven As and 4 Bs.

Spurred on by her dad’s promise to take her away on holiday if she did well, Emily is now going to continue her education in September at Cirencester College, where she intends to take A-levels in Spanish, French, economics and maths.

"I’m happy with my results and I’m also happy because I get to go to Madrid," she said.

Emily will be joined at Cirencester College by fellow Thomas Keble student Ben Cockshull after he was awarded three A*s, six As, three Bs and one C.

Ben, who said he was relived to get results day over with, will study biology, chemistry, maths and environmental studies at A-level, with a view to going on to university to read biology or zoology afterwards.

Headteacher Julie Maunder said: "I’m absolutely thrilled with the results. It’s been a real team effort for the last five years."

She added: "Thomas Keble is committed to delivering a first rate, comprehensive educational experience that challenges and delivers for students of all abilities.

"It is a testament to the hard work of all students, staff and parents that we are able to celebrate these excellent outcomes with our young people. We are very proud of them all."