A GROUP of the most able students at a Newton Aycliffe school are rising to the challenge of taking their AS-level mathematics examination a year early.

The 23 students at Woodham Community Technology College have already completed a maths GCSE course in a year and all gained outstanding results, with one A* grade, 13 A grades, eight B grades and one C grade.

The class were given the chance to complete their GCSE a year early by Pip Wells, head of maths at Woodham.

All the pupils accepted the challenge, and are preparing for their final AS-level exam in January.

Mrs Wells said: "I am extremely proud of the whole group. The best part of the whole project was being able to tell the students their results in August and listening to their surprise at how well they had done."