Pupils praised for top exam results

1:10pm Sunday 12th October 2008

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Three students at St John’s School in Marlborough have been among the country’s top scorers in GCSE exams this year, one of them taking Italian a full two years early.

Patrick Blunt, 14, of Great Bedwyn found himself in the top ten scoring students out of more than 2,300 across the country who took the Italian exam this year He took the exam two years earlier than most students. But Patrick, who scored an A* in his Italian exam, did have the advantage of having an Italian mother.

He was born in Milan but came to Britain as a baby and brought up speaking both English and Italian. Now the Inter Milan supporter is planning to take his A-level Italian exam early as well.

Nell James and Lily Greenaway, both 16, made the top ten in drama GCSE exams.

Nell, from Manton, and Lily who lives in Marlborough finished in the top ten drama marks out of almost 70,000 entries nationwide.

They are both continuing their drama studies in the sixth form at St John’s.

Lily said she had no idea what career she would be pursuing but, still excited with her GCSE drama result, Nell said she was hoping to have a career in the film industry.

Nell added: “I don’t think I want to go on stage and I would rather prefer to be behind the scenes.”

Both girls took part in the school’s last two major musical productions, Grease in 2006 and The Forbidden Planet in 2007.

Headteacher Dr Patrick Hazlewood said: “For Patrick, Lily & Nell to be in the top ten in the country in these exams is a great achievement and one with which they should be very pleased – we most certainly are.”