Students at an Abingdon school have gained two of the five highest marks in the country in history at GCSE.

Nicola Goodwin and Helen Greenhalgh, from Our Lady's Convent School, both received letters from the exam board congratulating them on their outstanding History papers.

Nicola, who also gained grade A*s in all her subjects, said: "It has not really sunk in yet. I thought I had probably passed because I did quite a lot of work but this is far beyond all my expectations."

The whole year group at Our Lady's Convent was celebrating the school's best GCSE performance on record. The school's A to C pass rate was almost 100 per cent and just under half of the grades earnt were at A or A* level.

Meanwhile, students at Cranford House School, in Moulsford, achieved impressive results.

Pupil Amy Keeling, from Cholsey, was awarded ten As and one A*, and Georgie Bray, from Streatley, got two A*s, seven As and a B. Overall, 89 per cent of pupils passed five or more GCSEs with C grades or better.