GCSEs: Four local girls notch up 42 A* / As

Juliet Armstrong from Barlborough heads up the leader board with 11 straight A*s. She passed biology, chemistry, English language, English literature, geography, German, Greek, history, Latin, maths and physics all at the very top grade.

An avid historian Juliet has led a group of year 11 girls who have established an active history club at the school.

Another Barlborough girl Nayana Punnoose has achieved ten straight A*s in biology, chemistry, English language, English literature, French, history, Latin, maths, physics and religious studies.

Thorpe Salvin girl Jennifer Reid gained 11 straight A*/As, with eight of them star grades. Her subjects were biology, chemistry, drama, English language, English literature, history, maths and physics, business studies, French and physical education.

The school said Jennifer will receive the performing arts cup at the upcoming prize giving ceremony.

She has talents in many fields from acting to playing sports. And she was also selected to perform with her band for the Olympic torch relay party in Sheffield last summer.

And Todwick pupil Charlotte Farrugia has done herself and the school proud with five A*s in biology, business studies, French, geography and maths, and As in chemistry, English language, English literature, physics and Spanish.

“I am delighted for the girls and staff. In a year where it has been publicised that the examination boards have made changes to core subjects to make them harder, they have continued to excel especially in the sciences with an average of 70 per cent A*/As in all three separate sciences and almost half all entries being A* in Physics.,” said headteacher Valerie Dunsford.