A GROUP of Broadstairs sixth form students passed with flying colours after taking a new international exam, with one boy bagging a place at Cambridge.

Dane Court Grammar School has completed its first year of the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB).

The programme of study was introduced two years ago, with 19 students being the first to take the course.

Every student passed, gaining a full Diploma, well above the average for British state schools.

One student, 18-year-old Jamie Parish-Bassett, from Herne Bay, did so well that he has won a place to read politics, psychology and sociology at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Jamie joined Dane Court Grammar seven years ago from Bexley Grammar after his family moved to Herne Bay from Plumstead.

He secured his interview and subsequent place at the world-renowned university after scoring 40 out of a possible 45 marks for his IB exams.

Jamie said: "Doing the IB over the last two years has been a real challenge, and one I have enjoyed greatly.

"I think the IB took more work and time than my friends who did A-levels had to invest.

"However, this broad base of knowledge really helped me during my university interviews."

Headteacher Paul Luxmoore said: "We are absolutely delighted with these results.

"Teachers and students have worked incredibly hard."

Dane Court now plans to make the Baccalaureate the only post-16 qualification available at the school from 2012.