Hitchin Boys' School has reported outstanding achievements by its students in their A levels and other Level 3 qualifications this week.

This year was a return to public exams but with some adjustments to recognise the significant disruption that students faced due to the pandemic.

Over 100 students have been successful in meeting their university offer criteria, with others going on to apprenticeships, college and employment.

Some notable successes included Oliver Lavialle who achieved 4 A* grades in Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths and is going on to study Aerospace Engineering at Bath. William Morley similarly achieved 4 A* grades in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths and is reading Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius college, Cambridge. Max Garthwaite and Thomas Brown achieved 3 A*s and are studying Economics and Physics respectively, both at University of Manchester.

Head boy Charlie Innam was successful in gaining offer to train to be a commercial pilot at the University of West London. A further 24 students achieved the equivalent of straight A* or A grades in each A-level. Nearly a third of all grades awarded to HBS students were A or A* with an overall pass rate of 99%. 18 students undertook a mix of academic and vocational qualifications and they also achieved highly in Business and Information Technology BTECs.

Fergal Moane, headteacher, said: "This has been an incredibly tough two years for this cohort of students and we are immensely proud of their achievements. These are the first set of public examinations they have sat, since their GCSEs were awarded by teacher assessment two years ago.

"Throughout the pandemic, our students remained engaged and resilient, and their efforts have paid off in an excellent set of results.

"They have proven the pessimists wrong and showed how this generation can overcome adversity and strive for excellence. We wish them they very best of luck in the future, for university, apprenticeship or employment."