Five former John McGlashan College pupils have achieved exam results in the top echelons of the International Baccalaureate diploma, and have been invited to a New Zealand Top Scholars' dinner in Wellington.
Former Year 13 pupils Kyu Kim and Yoshi Nishimura gained 44 out of a possible 45 in the diploma examinations. Sam Guest and Nick White achieved 43 and Joshua Quon 42.
Deputy principal David Boardman said their marks placed them in a select group world-wide and gained them an invitation to the New Zealand Top Scholars' dinner at Government House in February.
''I am overjoyed with how the students have done.
''It is a testament to the hard work and focus that they had put in over the past 18 months.''
The boys were among 15 year 13 pupils who completed the demanding programme last year, and another 22 were on foreign language exchange at present, Mr Boardman said.
''The college average this year was 35 points, out of a maximum 45, and this puts them well ahead of the 2013 world average of 29.95.
''Students have reason to be very pleased with their results,'' he said.
John McGlashan College has offered the International Baccalaureate diploma alongside NCEA since 1999, and is the only boys' school in the South Island delivering it.
Mr Boardman said the diploma was a broad-based programme, requiring pupils to follow six subjects, including a second language, a research project and a service component.
''Its real strength is how it prepares students for tertiary education,'' he said.
