emerged that staff had been teaching the wrong book for one of their English Literature International GCSE papers, after students opened the exam and found no questions relating to the book Spies by Michael Frayn, which they had been studying for two years. One parent said, “It has been a complete utter waste of time for two years.” The school apologised and launched an investigation into the incident, and begged the exam board Cambridge International for 'special consideration'. Malvern St James received the highest rating of 'Excellent' in the independent schools Inspectorate Educational Quality Inspection, published in May 2017. Structure and academic results The school is divided into four areas MSJ Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2), MSJ Prep (Year 3 to Year 6), MSJ Seniors (Year 7 to Year 11) and MSJ Sixth Form (Year 12 & Year 13). A-level results 2021: Students achieved 43% of grades at A*, 75% at A*-A, 90% at A*-B and 98% at A*-C. GCSE results 2021: 32% of the entries were graded 9; 54% 9-8; and 74% 9-7. A-level results 2020: Students achieved 31% of grades at A*, 67% at A*-A, 87% at A*-B and 97% at A*-C. GCSE results 2020: 57% of entries scored a 9-8 or A* grades; 77% of entries scored 9-7/A*-A grades and 99.5% of entries scored 9-4 or A*-C. 41% of girls gained a clean sweep in grades 9-7 or A*-A. A-level results 2019: 44% of grades were at A* and A, and more than one in six students achieved a clean sweep of A* and A grades. GCSE results 2019: 38% of entries scored a 9-8 or A* grades; and 55% of entries scored 9-7/A*-A grades. Boarding houses The school offers full, weekly or flexi boarding. All girls whether they are boarders or day girls are a part of the boarding community. There are five boarding houses each dedicated to caring for a specific age group: Batsford, Benhams, Mount, Poulton and Greenslade. Architecture The Imperial Hotel Following the collapse of the spa industry, many of the hotels were acquired for use as private boarding schools, and education became the basis of Malvern's economy; the Imperial Hotel was purchased by the school in 1919. The former hotel is directly opposite Great Malvern railway station, with its dedicated (now derelict) tunnel to the basement of the building, which is clearly visible from both platforms of the station. The red brick