The headteacher of a Suffolk school hit by the so-called "crumbling concrete" crisis has praised his students for showing they can "overcome any obstacle and achieve great things".

Peter Smith, head at Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge, was "incredibly proud" of A-level pupils, 20% of whom achieved the top A*-A grades in this year's results, despite dealing with the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and safety concerns over the school's buildings.

The school was partially closed in September after being found to be one of 200 schools and colleges across England to have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

READ MORE: Woodbridge Farlingaye High School head on RAAC delays

Minnie Mulumba was one of the top achievers at Farlingaye High SchoolMinnie Mulumba was one of the top achievers at Farlingaye High School (Image: Farlingaye High School) The lightweight 'bubbly' material was used in flat roofing, floors and walls from the 1950s to 1990s as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, but was less durable with a lifespan of 30 years and had sparked concerns about safety.

In the aftermath of the discovery, staff at the Woodbridge school had to find alternative spaces around the site that could be used as classrooms.

READ MORE: A Level results day 2024: Full list of Suffolk schools

In their grades, 51% of students achieved grades A*-B, while 73% secured A*-C, with 18 pupils receiving a flush of A*/A grades across three or four subjects.

Mr Smith said: "We are incredibly proud of all our students who have achieved such fantastic results.

"Their success is a reflection of their hard work and the unwavering support from our talented and committed teaching staff and to see that one in five grades achieved were at the highest A/A* level is incredible.

READ MORE: Woodbridge news
"We’re so proud of all the individual stories that are behind the headline figures you see today and about where our students now go next.

"These results will open doors to exciting futures, whether in higher education, apprenticeships, or careers.

"They also show that no matter what challenges are thrown at a group of students, whether that’s been an education interrupted by a pandemic or the recent significant challenges the school has faced with RAAC, they have the determination and resilience, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve great things.”

READ MORE: Suffolk news

Star pupils included Lucca L.Marcotte, who achieved three A*s and one A and is off to read mathematics at Homerton College in Cambridge and Minnie Mulumba, who gained three A*s and an A and is going to study medicine at Queen Mary University in London.

Another student, Francesca Lynch, is off to the University of Leicester to study mental health and adult nursing after achieving two A*s and an A.