EXTRA special praised has been reserved both students and teachers at SK9 schools following the first results from the new A-levels.

Students in England who received their results on Thursday were the first to complete the exams since the Government overhauled the qualifications, with students now taking their exams only at the end of the two-year course instead of after each year.

Dr James Pullé told the Guardian that he was especially pleased with the results for his students at Wilmslow High School, given the challenges that the new A-levels had presented to the school.

“The results are better this year, but in terms of how have we had to prepare for that, the difference has been huge,” he said.

“For the reformed A-levels the students have had no past papers to go off. Those students that have had the reformed A-levels had to do this new exam, but not with the same background to compare it with.

“So it’s been a particularly challenging journey for them, and for us as the staff, it was hard work to be able to put that support in when you are going through it for the first time.

“So I’m extremely grateful for the huge amount of time that the staff have put in to make the reformed A-levels work, as we’ve seen with what we’ve got.”

But at Alderley Edge School for Girls, headteacher Helen Jeys believes the new format didn’t have too much of an impact.

“The girls have shown that they could really rise to the challenges of the new A-levels,” she told the Guardian.

“For all of us in schools, we were always wondering what it would be like, but the girls have done really well.”