TWO boys have bucked the national trend of female exam success with excellent GCSE results.

Jonathan Easton and Timothy Rawle have come top of the class at King Charles I High School in Kidderminster.

Jonathan, who plays rugby for Kidderminster Carolians, gained eight GCSEs at A* and two at A grade. He will be taking English, French, German and history A-levels at the school.

Timothy gained eight A*, one A grade and a B grade. He will study chemistry, physics, maths and further maths.

Headteacher Alan Brooks said: "These two students are proof boys can do well in examinations.

"There is a tendency for girls to gain generally higher grades than boys, a problem we are addressing in common with most other schools.

"Jonathan and Tim show what is possible."