A SIXTH form described as below par by Ofsted inspectors has bolstered its exam results.

More than half of students at Neale-Wade Community College passed their A Levels with higher grades - a nine per cent increase on last year.

Four even got the new A* grade which put them in the top 10 per cent of exam results in the country.

Oliver Barnes got the top grade in English Language and Literature while also bagging Bs in history and politics.

Meanwhile Joshua Jackman’s A* came in physical education along with two B grades in history and media.

Other star achievers included Thomas Beeby, who got three As in sociology, English language and literature and history as well as a B in geography and Henrietta Cliss, who got an A in media and Bs in history and English literature.

Fiona Dunham scooped an A in chemistry along with a B in biology and C in history, whereas Thomas Penska got an A in mathematics and Bs in physics and further mathematics.

And Rachel Roe got four A grades in her first year AS Level exams.

The results mean that Neale-Wade secured a 100 per cent pass rate in 12 of its subjects.

That has resulted in several Neale-Wade students landing places at UK universities this year.

Principal Tim Hitch said: “Overall I am pleased with the students’ results this year.”

Praising “a number of very pleasing individual performances”, he added: “The hard work of the students and staff is clear.”

Head of post-16 Natalie Lamb said: “I would like to congratulate students on their success, which reflects two years of dedicated work by students, and wish them luck in their future careers.”

Last year Ofsted rated the effectiveness of Neale-Wade’s sixth form as “satisfactory”, saying: “Standards achieved by students in their AS and A Level courses in 2008 were below average.

The inspectors’ report went on to say: “Teaching and learning are satisfactory, although not all lessons provide the challenge, pace and targeted questioning to stimulate and involve students effectively in their learning.”

Neale-Wade chair of governors Jenny Nickalls said: “These results reflect continued progress and achievement at Neale-Wade.

“I am delighted that individual student success will allow our sixth form students to continue their education and training.”