Northumberland's A-level results announced
Aug 20 2009 By ncjMedia Newsdesk
Visit our Education Choices site for advice on what to do after A-level
A school that has been rocked by a series of tragedies in recent months was given a lift by record A-level results today.
Sixth form students at the Duchess's Community High School in Alnwick achieved a 99.7% success rate, with more than half of entries resulting in either an A or B grade - 5% up on last year.
Nine students achieved three or more grade A passes and two of them, Sam Bray, 18, and Jack Fleet, 17, secured places at Cambridge University by getting five A grades each.
The excellent results brought a boost for the school which in the last six months has lost popular teachers Steve Handley and Dave Debbage, who died after suffering heart attacks, student Sam Gattens, 17, who was killed in a road accident and former pupil Peter Pringle, 17, who also died in a car crash.
Today headteacher Maurice Hall said:``The results are a real testament to the talent and hard work of both students and staff in what has been an incredibly difficult year for all concerned with the school. The deaths have had an impact on everyone.''
Student Kirsten Sutherland, 18, who achieved three A grades and will study geography at Durham University, said:``It has been really difficult this year with everything that has happened, because it all seemed to happen at once. However, it is a happy day today and I'm delighted with my results.''
Grades across all Northumberland schools are still being analysed, but the council is expected to announce record results.
Coun Lesley Rickerby, executive member for children’s services at Northumberland County Council, said: “Well done to all the students in Northumberland picking up their A-level results today.
“We wish them every success for the future, whatever career or study path they choose to follow."
Two students from Hirst High School, Northumberland, were over the moon to discover they’d got the grades they needed to go to university.
Coral Appleton, 18, of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, got a Bs in psychology and maths and a C in biology. She is going to Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh to study maths.
She said: “I’m very pleased with my results. I’ve always liked maths and it has always been my strongest subject.”
Cory Brydon, 18, also from Newbiggin, achieved three Bs in media studies, ICT and product design.
He is looking forward to starting a course at Northumbria University in computer games, design and production.
He said: “I’ve done better than I expected. My ambition is to design video games.”
Hirst achieved an overall A-level pass rate of 91%, up 1% from last year.
Headteacher Lesley Craig said: “Everyone has put in a tremendous amount of effort and I am delighted it has paid off.”
Hirst High will reopen as part of an academy in September.
Students at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School achieved a 98% pass rate at grades A-E.
Almost half of exam entries resulted in grades A or B while around a dozen students got straight As.
Headteacher Neil Morrison said: “Overall we are pleased with the results.
“The general picture is very much in line with our expectations which were pretty good.
“Within that there is quite a lot of outstanding performances.”
Hugh Oliver, 18, of Humshaugh, got three As in French, Geography and English Literature.
Hugh is to study Geography at St Andrews.
He said: “It is kind of what I expected but I needed an A and two Bs so there wasn’t too much pressure.”
Visit our Education Choices site for advice on what to do after A-level
