Pupils from King William’s College are celebrating good exam results.

The private school teaches the International Baccalaureate instead of A-levels.

At the top of the year, both Mia Hall and Noon Khalil achieved 42 points out of a maximum of 45, while only just behind were Anna Blayney, Jess Clucas, Lisa Douglas and Eve Wiltcher.

This year’s Upper Sixth achieved an average of 31.2 - similar to an offer from a university such as Birmingham, which would normally require three good A-level results.

The school says the International Baccalaureate is an internationally recognised qualification known for its breadth, preparing students for university and beyond.

Joss Buchanan, the school’s principal, said: ’The exams the Upper Sixth would have sat back in May were of course cancelled and this year’s results have been based instead on the students’ internal assessments (coursework), predictions and the IB organisation’s statistical analysis.

’Interestingly, the difference between the students’ mock results and final results is almost identical to usual and the results overall seem to be broadly fair.

’Some students had initially hesitated about taking on the International Baccalaureate but by putting in the effort they have made a real success of it, demonstrating once again that the diploma is not just for the most able.

’The university picture looks extremely strong and most students are straight into their first choice.

’Many congratulations go to head of school Jess Clucas who will be reading psychology and linguistics at Pembroke College, Oxford; Anna Blayney who will be studying medicine at Bristol; and Noon Khalil who has confirmed her place for law at the London School of Economics.

’We also have students going to universities in Europe and North America and a number of the year group have chosen to take a gap year.

’Congratulations to all of the students. I am very pleased that in this most extraordinary of years their effort and hard work has paid off.’