Malala achieves top GCSE grades

Malala Yousafzai, the girls' education campaigner, is celebrating 
achievingtop grades at GCSE on Thursday, with her highest 
scores in science and maths.
The 18-year-old Pakistani, who was shot in the head by the Taliban 
aged 14 for defying their ban on girls' education, moved to Britain 
with her family following the attack.

After emergency surgery, Ms Yousafzai settled in Birmingham, 
where she was yesterday awarded six A*s and four A grades at GCSE.

Ms Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, achieved top 
grades in maths, physics, biology, chemistry and religious studies 
– including a further A* in maths IGCSE.

Overall, entries for girls in STEM pursuits are up by 30,000 this year, 
according to figures from the Department for Education (DfE) 
– including more than 14,000 in maths.

However, Ms Yousafzai also picked up As in history, geography, 
English language and English literature.

Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala's father, took to Twitter to express his joy 
at his daughter's results, saying: "My wife Toor Pekai and I are proud 
of Malala getting 6A*s and 4As. #education for every child."

Ms Yousafzai currently attends Edgbaston High School, an independent 
girls' school in Birmingham.

The school yesterday announced an impressive set of results, with 
an overall pass rate of 98.3 per cent, and 15.5 per cent of grades at A*.

Just over half (52.7 per cent) of papers were awarded A*/A 
and 82.9 per cent achieved A*/A/B.

Commenting on the school's results, Dr Ruth Weeks, the head teacher, 
said: "The [results] reflect very well on the hard work and determination 
of the girls and also the staff that have taught and supported them over 
the last five years."

She continued: "The girls are not only successful academically but also
 have many other talents and strengths: they are superb sportswomen, 
actresses, musicians, debaters and much more and they all contribute 
in many ways to their school and the community."

telegraph.co.uk