Three Christopher Whitehead heading to Cambridge University

The trio from Christopher Whitehead Language College left the school in September and will spend the next few years studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Robert Dakers, Alice Taylor and Freya Macpherson are reading Mathematics, Geography and Veterinary Science at Cambridge University respectively.

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Neil Morris, headteacher of Christopher Whitehead for more than two decades, said: "We are a relatively small sixth form but to have three students from a state school going to Cambridge is absolutely incredible.

"80 out of our 82 students have been accepted into their first choice pathway.

"We've got other students who will be heading to top universities in Exeter and London."

For Mr Morris, the celebrations are not just limited to those who are heading to university: "I'm equally delighted for with students who have chosen other pathways such as apprenticeships.

"We've got a student who will be starting an apprenticeship in the military, we've got someone else who is doing a management apprenticeship with Marks and Spencer and another person who will be doing motorsport engineering at Silverstone.

"I do believe there is a pathway for everyone and we shouldn't be afraid of challenging our students to push themselves as far as possible.

"I suppose that's why we do it as teachers."

A-level performances across the country improved for the first time since 2021 this summer.

Seventy six per cent of grades handed out were at a grade C and above, up from 75.4 per cent in 2023.

In the West Midlands, 24.8 per cent of grades were either an A or A*, a 1.9 per cent improvement from the previous year.

As a result, Mr Morris was left with an optimistic outlook: "People always focus on the negativity going on in the world, but I came in on results day and felt that there was a real hope for the future."