Students across the Island continue to amaze both teachers and parents with their recent GCSE examinations.

A 16-year-old Bermuda High School pupil, Elizabeth Thompson reached fifth place internationally in her GCSE literature examination. She was competing against 365,000 students and received a letter of commendation ? something the school has been especially proud of.

Miss Thompson is now completing the IB Diploma Programme at BHS. Bermuda High School Headmaster, Roy Napier said the school was especially proud of Miss Thompson on her achievement, but also of the overall results which he described as ?excellent? for the past six years. He said of the 40 students who took their GCSE?s at BHS last year ? in all papers ? 17 percent received A-stars, 29 percent received As, 23 percent received Bs, 20 percent received Cs and 11 percent were below C.

Adding that BHS students take their GCSE exams in their eleventh year, instead of year 12, just like Warwick Academy which last year entered 58 students in their eleventh year in the GCSE and International GCSE Examination Boards.

This was only the second time that Warwick students have taken these examinations a year earlier than their predecessors did. At GCSE level, in which ten subjects were on offer, the percentage of passes at Grades A-star ? C was 80 percent.

At International GCSE level, in which eight subjects are offered, the percentage of passes at Grades A-star ? C was 75 percent. The combined pass rate was 99.6 percent and while three subjects gained 100 percent pass at the highest level (A-star-C) and two others were in the upper 90 percentage range.

Pupils who led the way included Nicholas Hoskins who received two A-stars, 5 A?s and 2 B?s and Jahde Eve, who received one A-star, 5 A?s and 3 B?s.

While Sarah Mastalir received two A-stars, 5 A?s, 1 B and 1 C and Matthew Sharpe received three A-stars, 3 B?s and 2 C?s.