The ten St John’s School sixth formers who have become students at elite Marlborough College for their final two years of studies, say they love being involved in the unique link between the two schools.

They say they don’t even mind the longer hours and having classes on Saturday mornings.

The six boys and four girls, who at St John’s would wear their own clothes, now have to abide by the college’s dress code with the girls wearing long black skirts and jackets and the boys suits and ties.

They say they have accepted that as part of the deal between the two schools to run shared International Baccalaureate lessons because both schools had only ten candidates each, not ideal to run courses.

The students work until 7pm three evenings a week and have more studies on Saturday mornings but they also enjoy the college’s longer holidays.

The College’s second master, Colin Fraser, said the St John’s students had been assimilated into public school life as if they had always been there.

St John’s IB co-ordinator Gary Paterson said: “It has worked out well and there have been no problems.”

Tom Rendell, 16, from Aldbourne, said the St John’s group had been accepted by their college peers without any problems.

He said: “It is different and there are longer hours and on three days a week we are at the College for 11 hours but we are all enjoying it.

“We have the time to get more work done.”

Sam Paget, 17, who lives in Marlborough, said he particularly enjoyed the IB community service work. He and Tom together with one of the college boys were making chocolates to sell in aid of Hope and Homes for Children.

Sam hopes the IB diplomas would help them when it came to getting good university places and jobs. He said: “Every year 5,000 people get triple A grades at A-level and have difficulty finding jobs. Our IBs will make us stand out.”

Ben Frost, 17, from Wroughton, said the news that the St John’s IB group would be studying at the college had “come out of the blue”.

He joined St John’s for the sixth form from a school in Swindon and he said he enjoyed working alongside the public school students. “Everyone has made a concerted effort to get on,” he said.