Bumper set of GCSE results at St Ambrose

Taking into account the new numerical grading for Maths, English Language and English Literature, 85 per cent of all grades were at A* to B with the boys recording a stunning 49 nines, the new top grade in those core subjects.

St. Ambrose College Principal James Keulemans said: “We are delighted with this year's results in light of the changes to GCSE's. This is testament to the hard work of students and staff and shows that this generation can rise easily to new challenges.”

Pictured reaching for the stars are from left to right: Joseph Glare, 16, from Heaton Moor, who got a 9, an 8 and eight A*s; Theo McCarthy, 16, from Warrington, who got two 9s, an 8, five A*s and three A grades; Thomas McCann, 16, from Hale Barns, who got two 9s an 8 and eight A*s and says he was helped by “revision and prayer.' Connor Mitchell, 16, from Firswood who one 9, two 8s, seven A*s and an A; Anthony Tanner, 16, from Timperley, who got one 9, a 7, a 6, six A*s and two As and wants to be a software engineer; James Bennett, 16, from Didsbury, who got two 9s, an 8, eight A*s and one A and is “thinking about Medicine”; Conrad Stack, 16, from Timperley, who got two 9s, an 8, six A*s and two As and wants to be an engineer; Maxwell Savage, 16, from Heaton Moor, who got a 9, an 8, a 7, seven A*s and an A and wants to be a lawyer; James Hickman, 16, from Didsbury, who got two 9s, an 8, seven A*s and the top A hat in Further Maths and wants to be an economist; Harry Backhouse, 16, from Hale, who got two 9s, an 8, and nine A*s and combines work with a love of computer gaming; Toby Leigh, 16, from Sale, who got two 9s, one 7, seven A*s and one A and wants to be a dentist; Sean Wynn, 16, from Sale, who was one of only 2,000 students nationwide to get three 9s plus seven A*s and says he was helped to relax by his dog. Sean wants to be a doctor and finally Omari Thompson-Edwards, who got two 9s, an eight, six A*s and two A grades and wants to be a games developer.