THE King's School in Worcester has been named the top independent school in the country for Pre-U results.

All 27 art Pre-U students received either an A* or A grade equivalent in their exams, with 24 gaining an A*.

Duncan King, deputy head at King's, said: "In 2015, the art department took the decision that the Pre-U offered a more rigorous and meaningful sixth-form course than what was offered in the reformed A-level.

"The demands of the Pre-U course, including an extended essay, are considerable but the teachers and the pupils have more than risen to this challenge to achieve this outstanding set of results.

"Our league table position in The Times is testament to the hard work, focus and determination of our students and teachers and follows on from the excellent GCSE and A Level results achieved by our cohorts this year."

The Pre-U qualification is an alternative to A-levels, created by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) specifically to prepare students for university.

It was conceived to offer additional depth in subjects beyond the standard A-level specification.

Many leading independent and state schools have replaced A-levels with Pre-U’s in some subjects including Westminster School and Alleyn’s School in London and The Perse School in Cambridge.

Pre-U qualifications are marked pass, distinction and merit. Each grade is then marked from 3 to 1 with a distinction 1 and 2 equal to an A* grade and distinction 3 equivalent to an A.

Students can take Pre-U only or combine it with A-levels.

George Terry, head of Art, said: “I’m so delighted that all twenty seven students achieved such incredible results.

"The twenty four A*s and three As are testament to their professional attitude and hard work over the last two years.

"It has been both exciting and inspiring to teach the students and to watch them develop through their creative journeys at the school. “

Becky Hartley, aged 18, received A*s in art, English literature and history as well as an A in politics. She will be studying history and politics at Lincoln College, Oxford.

“I have always wanted to apply for Oxford and Cambridge but I wasn’t sure what I would like to study," she said.

"I have chosen to do a combined honours degree in history and politics and I can’t wait to start."

Shannon Asplen, aged 18, earned a scholarship place at the Royal College of Music after receiving an A* in art, an A in music and a B in history. She will be majoring in classical saxophone and jazz.

“I am really looking forward to going to London in September to start my course," she said.

"I am going to be studying saxophone and classical jazz. I would love to work on musicals and travel the world with different bands.”