PUPILS from Trafford have made an outstanding contribution to Withington Girls’ School’s raft of excellent GCSE results this year.

Under the newly-reformed examinations, 17 WGS girls from Sale, Altrincham, Hale, Hale Barns and Bowdon amassed between them the coveted Grade 9 in 79 papers taken, as well as five achieving an additional A* in Further Mathematics.

In all, 150 papers taken by the group were attained at Grades 7 to 9 or A*-A.

Overall, the reformed GCSEs have seen Year 11s at Withington Girls’ School achieve 43 per cent of results at the elite Grade 9 and 11 pupils attain an exceptional clean sweep of at least eight Grade 9s; eight also with the very top A* Distinction in Further Mathematics.

Three pupils achieved 10 Grade 9s plus A* Distinctions in Further Maths.

Sixteen pupils, or one-in-five of the cohort, achieved Grade 8s and 9s in all their subjects, many with an additional A grade or higher in Further Mathematics.

In the new numerically-graded examinations, some 46 (58 per cent) of the Year 11 pupils at Withington earned Grades 7 or above in all their subjects, equating to A* to A in the pre-reformed grading system.

Withington’s Headmistress, Mrs Sarah Haslam, said: “These pioneers of the new GCSEs have done us proud and we are delighted for them all.

"Our pupils have achieved these wonderful results, whilst also demonstrating a genuine passion for learning and pursuing a wide range of interests beyond the classroom”.

The GCSE results follow the record-breaking 41 per cent of A-Levels achieved at the top A* grade last week and 15 Withington students set to start their studies at Cambridge and Oxford universities in the Autumn.

Mrs Sarah Haslam added: "The vast majority of this year group have chosen to continue their Withington journey in our Sixth Form.

"Joined by a number of new starters, we look forward to supporting them all as they move on to their chosen A-Level subjects and prepare their university applications.

"They and their families have already made a tremendous contribution to the Withington community, and we know they will continue to do so.

"Warm congratulations to them, to their teachers and to their families.’