One family, 29 A stars: Incredible GCSE success

Parents are over the moon if one of their children produces a raft of A* results in their GCSE exams.

For Kate Westwood the joy was triple-fold.

Her 16-year-old triplets Joshua, Robert and Olivia landed an astonishing 29 A* grades between them in this year's exams, with six A grades thrown in for good measure.

"It still hasn't sunk in really," said Kate, from Milking Bank, Dudley. "It's been a bit nerve-wracking over the last few weeks, worrying that maybe one of them wouldn't do so well.

"Thankfully they've all got fantastic results."

Wolverhampton Girls' High pupil Olivia scored a full house of 12 A* grades. She now plans to stay on at the school's sixth form.

Keen Manchester United supporters Joshua and Robert both attended Ellowes Hall Sports College in Dudley.

Joshua achieved nine A* grades and two As, while his brother got eight A* grades and four As.

They both plan to study A-levels at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, from next month.

Kate, a teaching assistant at Milking Bank Primary School, said a healthy competition had built up between the siblings in recent weeks.

"They have all worked exceptionally hard over the last two years, both in the classroom and at home," she said.

"The competition really bubbled over while they were waiting for their results. Olivia worked especially hard, but they were all dedicated to getting the best possible grades."

Robert has already achieved a B grade at maths A-level, having taken the exam two years ago, while Joshua passed his AS level maths a year early.

Kate added that her children's high level of self-motivation was the secret formula to their success.

"I think that with triplets it's easier because if one of them does something the others follow suit," she said. "They're very close like that.

"We gave them a bit of encouragement but they were all very self-motivated to achieve."