THE prized top grade made up more than a quarter of GCSE results achieved by pupils at St Augustine's Priory in Ealing.

Of all GCSEs entered at the Catholic independent girls' school, 25.4 per cent were graded A*, up from 20.6 per cent at the Hillcrest Road school last year. Nationally the figure is just six per cent.

The percentage of A* to C grades was down 1.3 per cent on 2014, but at 95.6 per cent this still compares very favourably with the national average of 69 per cent.

St Augustine's sixth form scholars Aneae Rodriguez, Aliyah Ahmad and Simran Bal notched up 20 A*s and 12 As between them, while Anna Szyszko achieved a phenomenal 11 A*s and 2 As.

Music students in particular excelled, with 100 per cent of candidates achieving an A* or A.

And these top grades were awarded to almost three quarters of the school's IGCSE triple scientists.

Headteacher Sarah Raffray said: “Once again, our girls have attained record grades, including in the more challenging IGCSE Science subjects as well as across the breadth of subjects, with the highest recurring mark across the entire cohort being A.

"As always, these excellent achievements reflect the hard work of staff and pupils.

"There have been many outstanding individual achievements but evidence of progress of each girl and that she has achieved her very best across a wide breadth of subjects remains the most rewarding aspect.”

Ealing Independent College was also well ahead of the national average, with 83 per cent of its students achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths.

Tri Nguyen can be particularly proud after starting at the college in 2013, one week after arriving from Vietnam with limited English skills.

He made such progress that he has completed his GCSEs one year early, at the age of 15, and achieved four A* grades, three As and a B.

Dr Ian Moores, principal of the college on New Broadway,  said, “Despite the national picture of fewer top grades at A-level and GCSE, the college has produced outstanding results with more students than ever achieving A* grades.

“I am delighted for the students and grateful to the committed staff."