Pupils at Sheldon School in Chippenham are celebrating the school’s best ever GCSE results today.

Eighty-five per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, with 70 per cent achieving the national benchmark of five A* to C grades including English and maths.

Third-nine per cent achieved the English baccalaureate, twice the national and local average.

Headteacher Gerard MacMahon said he was delighted with the results, which will be his last at the school.

The head, who has been in charge for eight years, is moving to Qatar on Monday to lead a large international school.

He said: “I’m really pleased that so many of our pupils achieved outstanding results.

“It has put the cap of eight great years for me.”

Matthew Almond achieved eight A* grades and three As, and will study further maths, exonomics, chemistry and physics for his A-levels.

He said: “It was a bit of a shock because I thought I had failed art, but I did well.

“I’m staying here to study for my A-levels, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Other success stories include Liberty Cooper, with nine A*s and one A, Isabella Smith, who achieved the same results, and Katherine Smith, who scored eight A*s and two As.