PRIORY Community School students are celebrating after record grades provisionally put them in the top 10 per cent of the nation’s schools.

The number of students receiving five GCSES with grades A* to C in English and maths stood at 70 per cent, a 16 per cent rise on last year’s figures.

In English 84 per cent of students gained A* to C grades, with 72 per cent achieving the same in maths, statistics which school bosses say indicate they may be in the country’s top 10 per cent.

A total of 83 per cent of the school’s pupils gained five A* to C grades in all subjects.

Two pupils achieved 28 A* grades between them – Victoria Hudson achieving 15 top grades and Edward Hillman 13.

Edward, aged 16, of Wainwright Close, Worle, said: “It was amazing when I opened my results up, I was really lost for words. It was better than I could ever have dreamt of.”

Edward will now go on to study maths, further maths, physics and chemistry at Weston College.

The school’s headteacher, Neville Coles, said: “We are thrilled. We have doubled our level of success in the last few years. This is a success story right here in Weston.”

Gary Leece, chairman of the school’s governors, added: “A massive well done to students and staff. They have done themselves proud. These results are magnificent.”