students at St Bede’s College, Manchester, have produced the best GCSE results in five years with 46 per cent of grades at A*-A and 75 per cent of all subjects at A*-B.

With a total of 126 A*s achieved by pupils, headmaster, Dr Richard Robson, described the 2017 achievement as 'outstanding'.

Among the high-achievers were Chorlton’s Joseph Karran who secured 11 A* and 2 A, plus pupils scoring multiple A* grades as part of their haul: James Mee from Glossop and Emily Jones from Bramhall (9 A*) and mathematician Haowen Zhao who achieved an A^ in Further Maths and 8A*s.

Hale’s Richard Pollard scored 7A*s, 5As and 1B and Tohanro Arenyeka from Sale achieved 7A*s and 4As.

This excellence in STEM subjects augers well for A Level results in 2019 as the vast majority of these students will be continuing into the sixth form.

For James Mee however, there is a dilemma as he is torn between a career as a doctor or fulfilling his dreams to be an actor.The dedicated student will be studying four STEM subjects together with theatre studies.

An England footballing star who has juggled his studies with international duties and regular football games was also among those achieving GCSE results at St Bede’s.

Chadderton-born Everton U17 forward, Ellis Simms, counted 4A and 3B among his results. England U17 netballer, Ella Standring, from Ashton-under-Lyne, one of the youngest players to be capped at 15-years-old, netted an A* and A as part of her seven GCSE passes.

Dr Robson said: “These are outstanding results - the best GCSE results in the past five years and more top grades than ever.

"Building on our A Level success last week, the college’s academic scores continue to improve.

"I am enormously proud of the hard-work of every student and the inspirational and dedicated teaching of our staff.”