More than half of students at South Hampstead High School (SHHS) opened their A-level results to find just A* or A grades.

Ham & High: Alisha O'Brien-Coker, a bursary student at South Hampstead High School whose As and A*s mean she's off to Edinburgh University. Picture: South Hampstead High SchoolAlisha O'Brien-Coker, a bursary student at South Hampstead High School whose As and A*s mean she's off to Edinburgh University. Picture: South Hampstead High School (Image: Archant)

Headteacher Victoria Bingham was delighted with the school's success, saying a "phenomenal" 56 per cent of pupils got the top marks.

The results have secured students places at top universities, both in the UK and overseas, to pursue a diverse range of courses.

High-achievers included Alisha O'Brien-Coker. Alisha, who got a bursary to attend SHHS, scored a clean sweep of As and A*s and is now set for Edinburgh University's history course.

Ham & High: Pupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly HancockPupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

Alisha said she wanted to highlight how much help the school's bursary scheme had been.

Emma Poulard, who also got a sweep of three As and A*S and will go to Durham to study geography, and Anna Alexander who is heading to the London School of Economics to study politics and economics on the back of two A*s and an A.

Mrs Bingham said she was delighted with the "amazing class of 2019" and added: "I'm delighted for the girls. This is our best set of A-level results, with more students than ever achieving the very top grades.

Ham & High: Pupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly HancockPupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

"Despite the national headlines claiming that boys are outperforming girls, our sixth form leavers are emphatically bucking the trend."

Ham & High: Pupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly HancockPupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: Pupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly HancockPupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: Pupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly HancockPupils celebrate their success in A-Level results at South Hampstead High School. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)