Shropshire student Michael is top of the form in exam
A talented Shropshire student is celebrating after achieving a top mark in an increasingly popular qualification.
Ellesmere College sixth former student Michal Zarzecki has excelled in his International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Michal achieved 43 points, which is only two points short of the maximum grade – a score achieved only by a handful of UK students and only 160 or so worldwide.
Michal said: "I am stunned, I honestly thought I had done well but never expected to be so close to the maximum score. I am now looking forward to studying medicine at university."
The IB qualification, which is an alternative to A-levels, requires students to study six subjects, including maths, science and a foreign language.
Overall well over half of Ellesmere College students achieved more than 30 points, which is equivalent to A*AA grades at A-level.
Staff say said the IB Diploma was introduced at Ellesmere College in September 2006 as it's well respected by leading universities across the globe.
More and more students are choosing to take the IB which has been widely commended for introducing interdisciplinary thinking to students. It is being taken up by more schools as a way of having an edge when students come to apply for university.
Students Max Assmann, Caspar Fritzen and Robert Blach were among those who also achieved very high marks.
Brendan Wignall, headmaster, said he was delighted with the result.
"The IB pass rate at Ellesmere College increased to a point where it is now well above the IB world pass rate," he said.
"Well over half of the cohort – 58 per cent – achieved more than 30 points, which is equivalent to A*AA grades at A-level. This is an exceptional set of results, our pupils have done so well."
