A RECORD number of students at Bridport's Sir John Colfox School have achieved A* and A grades in their GCSEs this year.

Some 44 per cent of students achieved at least one A grade pass.

The overall pass rate was 99 per cent with 57 per cent of students achieving five A*-C passes.

Of those taking a modern language course 72 per cent achieved grade A*-C.

Headteacher Kay Taylor said: "I am delighted with these results. Students of all abilities have worked hard and most have achieved their targets."

Seven students gained As across the board. They were Lucy Bell, Tessa Bide, Bethen Bursan, April Foot, Rebecca Gatehouse, Joe Nava and Danielle Tattershall.

A*-C results in some departments were particularly high: 92 per cent in art and design, 93 per cent in food technology, 95 per cent in textiles, 100 per cent in Japanese, 92 per cent in history, 93 per cent in religious studies and 92 per cent in sports studies.

The number of students taking modern languages has been reducing nationally but all students at Colfox take a course with 72 per cent achieving an A*-C grade.