Idris Miles, Anna Novelli, Ken Petalcorin and Oliver Stanley

STARTING GCSEs a year early is the key to success for one Welwyn Garden City school.

Stanborough School headteacher Peter Brown said: “A major factor in the school’s success is the opportunity given to all students to start their GCSE studies in year 9, and to take additional subjects at GCSE and even AS-level in year 11.

“The students find this stimulating and challenging, and they gain confidence in their ability when they receive some GCSE results at the end of year 10.”

He added: “With 80 per cent of the students in Stanborough School’s year 11 gaining at least five A* to C grades in their GCSEs, and 58 per cent achieving five A* to C grades including English and mathematics, it is clear that the school is now firmly established as a centre of academic excellence.”