GCSEs in brief: Student's exam song to be sold as a single

A 15-year-old GCSE music student has proved a hit with a song she composed specifically for her exam.

Not only did the song, "With You", lead to an A-grade pass in the exam itself but next week it will be released nationally as a pop single.

Naomi Higginson, a pupil at Oldham Hulme Grammar School, who uses the stage name Caleidra when she sings, is delighted with the song's success.

"I had to write two pieces – one classical and one pop," she said. "I took so long over the classical piece that I didn't have much time for the pop one!"

The song, a rock ballad, is based on a real-life love story about a long-distance relationship. Her tutor, Rachel Shapey, said: "When I heard this song I couldn't believe it was the work of a Year 11 pupil – it was better than some songs on the radio."

It will be released by Nova Distribution – part of Universal Music – on 26 August.

Headmaster smashes exam result record

Headmaster Peter Hughes has managed the seemingly impossible task of improving on his predecessor Sir Michael Wilshaw's record, with 92 per cent of all pupils at his school in east London received A* to C grade passes in both English and maths. Mr Hughes succeeded one-time superhead and current Ofsted chief inspector at Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney.

Mandarin results are sky-high

Kymberlie Aloni, a pupil at The Royal High School, Bath, got 12 A* grades in her GCSEs, including Mandarin, along with her 13 classmates. At Brighton College, all 19 Mandarin pupils received A*s, disproving theories that the exam was too hard.