THE headmaster at Canford School has praised students for achieving some of the highest GCSE results in the school’s history.

Over a quarter (27%) of all Canford papers were awarded the top grade of 9, widely acknowledged as beyond an A*, compared with 5% of papers nationally and over half (53%) of all Canford GCSEs were graded 9-8 compared with 12.1% across the country.

Canford’s pupils secured 73% of grades at 9-7 compared with 21.7% at 9-7 nationally and 48.4% average 9-7 across independent schools.

99% of all Canford papers were graded 9-4 (A*-C) compared with 67.4% nationally and 90.9% average in the independent sector.

Over a fifth of the Canford year group gained at least nine 9-8 (A*) grades, while over a third gained an impressive average of grade 8 (A*) or higher in all their examinations.

81 pupils (64%) of the year group gained an average grade 7 (A*/A) or higher. Results of the highest quality were seen across the Arts, Sciences and Humanities.

In English and Maths, 30% of all papers were graded 9, 61% 9-8 and 80% 9-7.

A school spokesperson said: “Such wonderful results are achieved through a great deal of hard work by our pupils, nurtured by the dedication of our specialist subject teachers and support staff.

“Through our tutor system and pastoral care, we have ensured that their education has remained broad and balanced, and as a result this year group has fully embraced all the opportunities a Canford education offers, developing their skills not only academically but also across the range of co-curricular options including sports, art, music, drama and CCF (to name but a few) and in house life supporting each other brilliantly.”

Headmaster Ben Vessey said: “Excluding the Covid years where different arrangements existed, these results are among the very best we have recorded at Canford, particularly at the top grade levels.

“Our Fifth Form should feel extremely proud of all their achievements to date, and these excellent examination results are demonstration of the dedication and determination of this year group to strive to do their very best across all aspects of their education.

“We look forward to seeing them develop further as they enter the Sixth Form, with all the exciting new pathways that this will offer them, not least through the facilities and opportunities in our College development, the first phase of which will open in Spring 2025.

“My thanks also to the support and guidance given by our superb teaching staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure that our pupils were as well prepared as possible to achieve such impressive outcomes.”