LARKMEAD School, in Abingdon has seen a near tripling in its GCSE results over the past five years.

Headteacher Chris Harris was delighted to see the school’s best ever results but said the continued improvement over recent years was also important.

Sixty-four per cent of students got five or more A* to C grades – an increase of six percentage points from last year and 22 per cent up on five years ago.

Mr Harris said: “These are far and away the best results we have ever had.

“There were eight kids who had eight or more A*s and As.”

He said the school had surpassed its targets, and put the success down to its new approach to learning.

He said: “It is all part of looking at independent learning with the students, and focusing on key skills. And we have got tremendous support from parents and governors.”

Pictured, from left, are star performers, back, Becky Turner (one A*, eight As, one B, one C); Ben Gresham (two A*s, six As, three Bs); Sophie Sillman (four A*s, five As, three Bs); and front, Alice Owen (four A*s, four As, two Bs); and Zoe Goldsbury (one A*, seven As, two Bs).