AN international skiing star was among the high achieving pupils at Queen Katherine School in Kendal.

Kelly Greenbank, a former member of Great Britain’s children’s ski team, scooped 5A*s and 4As. It is a particularly impressive achievement given the amount of work she has had to do in her own time over the years to fit in gruelling training sessions.

Kelly, who has skied from the age of four, has had time off from training with a bad back but said she is looking forward to launching into winter training in Austria from October.

“It is quite hard when you’ve been out skiing all day and then have to come back to do work,” she said.

She is set to study Biology, Maths, Geography and Economics at QKS Sixth Form, with hopes of going to university and continuing to ski competitively.

Kelly was just one of many who excelled in her exams, leading the school to its best ever GCSE results.

A budding journalist was also among those who scored highly.

Laura Day, 16, amassed a brilliant 9A*s and one A and said she was ‘a little bit shocked’.

“I was thinking it would be about 5As with some A*s,” she said. “I am overwhelmed but it is great that everything has paid off.”

Laura, who is staying at QKS for Sixth Form will study English Literature, English Language, History and Geography. She said she would like to study English at university.

Ben Hughes, 16, was celebrating a haul of 7A*s and 2As, which had left him ‘overwhelmed’.

He said: “I knew I had put the effort in to get good results but it is always a bit of a shock. My dad is really chuffed. After saying all week she would keep her phone on for me to ring her straight away, I can’t actually get hold of my mum.”

Ben said he had not really thought about life after Sixth Form at QKS but that he will be studying Geography, History, German and English.

Looking very laid back, 16-year-old Charlie Maguire said he hadn’t felt as relaxed an hour earlier as he celebrated achieving 2A*s and 7As.

He will study History, Theatre Studies, German and English Literature, with hopes of reading History at University and then Law.

In all, pupils amassed an incredible 192 A* and A grades between them.

Head teacher Stephen Wilkinson said: “This year’s results are nothing but stunning. Every student of a year group of 234 achieved success at GCSE level.

“QKS is proud to have helped the South Lakes Federation to achieve more by working together. My congratulations go to staff, parents and students themselves on such a fantastic set of results.”

QKS pupils also excelled in BTEC diplomas, with 21 achieving distinctions in Health and Social Care, Sport, Travel and Tourism, and ICT courses.

Jane Brierley, Head of Upper School, added: “These results truly reflect the determination of the students in the year group. I would like to congratulate Year 11 on all their hard work and thank parents and staff for their dedicated support.

“We are so proud of all our students and these results are testament to their commitment and resilience.”