TEACHERS at St Nicholas Catholic High School are experiencing a record-breaking form of double vision.

The problem is being caused by the large number of twins who are in the first year at the school.

There are 12 sets of twins in year seven, which could be a national record for the number of twins who are in the same year group.

The number of twins at St Nicholas is not restricted to the first year, as there is a total of 15 other sets in years eight through to 13, and the phenomenon even extends to the leadership of the high school, with the head teacher Kieran Kelly being himself a twin.

“The number of twins in year seven provides an extra level of challenge in learning names,” said head of year Andrew Oldham.

“But it is also really fascinating to see what different talents and personalities can emerge between two siblings of the same age.

“To me it only adds to the close community nature of the school. There is definitely a sense that the school is one large extended family, with older brothers and sisters supporting the younger year groups.

“Twelve sets of twins in one year adds another dimension to that. In year seven, we decided to split the twins and place them in different forms in order to encourage new friendships and individuality.”

Year seven twin Luke Chambers said: “The best thing about being a twin is that we always stick together.”

Fellow twin Jessica Moss said: “The best thing about being a twin is that I have a built-in playmate who is the same age as me,” while Eleanor Hornsby said the best thing about being a twin is that there is always someone to talk to who understands you.

The year seven St Nicholas twins are Brigid and Patrick Keighran, Grace and Sophie Tomlinson, Eleanor and Laura Hornsby, Holly and Joshua Lewis, Abbie and Hannah Kelleher, Millie and Jessica Higgins, Luke and Natasha Chambers, Andrew and Daniel McQuade, Jessica and Jorja Moss, Jodie and Rhys Millington, Alex and Kate Buckley, Ellie and Beth Boddy.