Pupils at an Oxford school are celebrating after achieving some of the best GCSE and A-Level marks in the country.

Six GCSE and three A-Level students at Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road, received letters this week from examining bodies Edexcel and AQA.

Richard Henley, 16, Caitlin Villiers, 16, Phoebe Shakespeare, 16, Elizabeth Van Zyl, 16, and Rose Glennerster, 16, were told they scored among the top 10 marks for GCSE art — an exam taken by 37,000 pupils.

Rose also finished in exam board Edexcel's top 10 for GCSE drama, along with Rachel Hartzell, 17, ahead of almost 62,000 other students.

The teenagers — who are all now in the sixth form at the school — said they were amazed by the news.

Phoebe said: "Our art department has been brilliant and deserves the outcome. I'm just really happy to have done so well.

"I'm staying on to do art in sixth form, so I hope to improve over the next two years and build on this."

Rachel said: "I was so happy with my drama results, especially when I found out I was in the top 10. I'm also continuing the subject into sixth form and I'm really looking forward to it. It's given me more confidence."

Anna Shelley, 18, and Claire Parson Brown also achieved top 10 marks in A-Level art, with Anna also among the top five pupils who took exam board AQA's English literature exam.

She said: "I was pleased, as it has given me more confidence to carry on these subjects to degree level."

Claire, 17, who is still in the sixth form at the school, said: "It took a while to sink in, but now I feel very proud of my achievement.

Matthew Saxton, 18, who gained a top five mark in further maths A-Level, has secured a place at Oxford University.

Headteacher Jill Judson said: "We're all delighted with the news. It's a real tribute to their hard work and that of their teachers that they have achieved such high marks."

The GCSE pupils' former year head Pete Davies said: "They're sensational students within an excellent year group. They deserve all the praise they get."