It’s A-level results day – and a results day like no other.

Congratulations to these high achieving students at Southborough High School in Surbiton, pictured.

Sixth form administrator Sue Taylor said: “It’s understandably been a difficult time over the past few months for them due to COVID but they have all done us proud. We wish them every success for the future.”

Exams were cancelled across the UK this year because of the pandemic so results have been based on teachers’ predictions as to what their students would have achieved and moderation by exam boards which look at schools’ past performances.

In England, the proportion of candidates receiving top grades is the highest on record with 27.9 per cent receiving an A or A*.

But 39.1 per cent of grades were lowered from teachers’ predictions with 35.6 per cent lowered one grade, 3.3 per cent dropped by two grades and 0.2 per cent by three grades.

Girls outperformed boys except in A*s. The proportion of girls who got A or higher was 28.4 per cent, 1.1 percentage points higher than boys.

Figures from the admissions service, Ucas, show that more students have been accepted onto UK degree courses this year.