A student from a Bethnal Green School who couldn’t speak a word of Russian a year ago has achieved an A* in the language today.

Friends of Anastasia Dmiuterk , who studies Raine’s Foundation School, though she was ‘strange’ by picking to study the language and she has been left speechless with her grade.

She said: ‘I’m amazed I got an A* in Russian as I only started learning it this year. As I’m Ukrainian, my parents said it’d be easier for me to learn Russian.

“I was the only one in the library with a dictionary and letters in Russian, and whilst friends thought I was strange at the time, it really paid off.

“I never expected that I’d get anywhere near an A* after only a year if learning it.

“I was amazed. The school were really supportive in my choice to sit Russian.”

The 16-year-old, who achieved mostly As and BS, will stay on at Raine’s sixth form to study medicine in the sixth form.

A number of high flying students from Raine’s scored 9 grades across their exams - the highest available in the new grading system, which was brought in last year.

Hirad Yazdani, 16, surpassed expectation to secure grades to study maths, further maths, physics and economics at the school’s sixth form.

Hirad said: “I was shocked when I opened up the results, on practising exams I had been averaging a grade 6 in English and in my GCSEs I got an 8.

“I didn’t expect such high grades, I even got a 7 in Spanish. I am so happy and proud of myself.”

Headteacher Robert Hullett said: “Despite the fact that the GCSEs have been made a lot harder and more difficult, our students have shown that with dedication and hard work they can achieve high grades.

“Some of our students have received grade 9s, which is the top of the old A* grade.

“We’re proud of how these students have adapted to achieve the highest grades. Some have achieved over what they would be expected to.”