Above: Eric and Oscar Xu celebrate straight 9s at GSCE at Dame Allan’s Schools

Identical twins Eric and Oscar Xu are today celebrating matching GCSE results, having both achieved the highest possible grades across all their subjects.

The Newcastle brothers, born just one minute apart, returned to Dame Allan’s Schools to collect a full set of nine grade 9s – the top grade awarded at GCSE to pupils demonstrating exceptional knowledge and understanding.

The pair will now move into Dame Allan’s Sixth Form, where both plan to study A Level Psychology. Eric, who will also study chemistry and biology, said: “I’m interested in biomedical science, specifically neuroscience, as the brain fascinates me.”

Oscar has chosen philosophy and Latin alongside psychology. He said: “I’m really happy with my results. I’ve chosen Latin as I think it will support a future career in Law.”

Eric added: “I think our parents will be feeling really proud today.”

Will Scott, Principal at Dame Allan’s Schools, said: “Eric and Oscar should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished. For two pupils to achieve nine straight grade 9s each is remarkable; to do it as identical twins is extraordinary.”

The Xu brothers’ success comes in a year when Dame Allan’s reported some of its strongest GCSE results, with more than a quarter of all grades awarded at grade 9 and over 60% at grades 9–7, the equivalent of the old A*–A.