Schools across Bucks have recorded some of the highest numbers of top GCSE grades in their history, proving out-of-step with national trends.

While national figures have shown a drop in the attainment of top GCSE grades compared to last year, schools in Bucks seem to be out-of-step with wider trends, recording some of the highest numbers of top grades in their establishments’ history.

Compared to Northern Ireland and Wales, England recorded a significant drop in GCSE grade attainment this year following a return to pre-pandemic marking standards.

Overall, the proportion of grades achieved by students in England fell by 4.4 per cent compared to 2022 and did not indicate a major increase from pre-pandemic levels.

However, schools across Buckinghamshire proved exceptions to the rule, with high-achieving students taking home record-breaking levels of high grades.

Year 11 pupils at Cressex Community School achieved the most Level 7 GCSE grades this year in the school’s history – a record made all the more impressive by the difficult circumstances through which they were able to persevere.

Headteacher Khaiam Shabbir said he was confident the school would continue its trend of “continuously improving” grade attainment levels year after year.

READ MORE: Council congratulates 'resilient' GCSE students in Bucks

More records were broken at Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, where students achieved the highest ever results at Levels 7 and 9 and 23 per cent of those taking their GCSEs were awarded the top qualification of Level 9, the equivalent of A** - marking an improvement on last year’s numbers.

Head of School Sam Holdsworth said the “extremely impressive” results were a testament to the “hard work and resilience” of the students. 

Students at Princes Risborough School also recorded a significant increase from 2019 grades this year, with the Head of School Vincent Forshaw congratulating Year 11 on "exceeding all key performance measures in English and Maths". 

He added: "We have also seen significant increases in the percentage of students gaining 5 or more GCSE grade 4s and 5s including English and Maths. It has also been pleasing to see a continued improvement in grade 7s across all subjects.

"We are thrilled that this will open doors for our students for their next steps and we look forward to welcoming the vast majority of them back to join our oversubscribed sixth form."