Impressive A-level results for so many stars

Aug 20 2010 by Brian Daniel and Dave Black, The Journal

ONE of the region’s newest schools has celebrated A-level results that saw its first pupil going to Oxford.

The Northumberland Church of England Academy in Ashington opened in September last year, sponsored by the church and the Duke of Northumberland.

It caters for pupils from Hirst, Newbiggin by the Sea and Lynemouth with its secondary school, the Josephine Butler campus, based at Ashington’s former Hirst High School site in Lichfield Close.

Among a number of impressive performers was Natalie Johnson, 18, of Dalton Avenue in Lynemouth, who will be studying chemistry at Oxford.

Natalie got four As in physics, biology and chemistry and maths, as well as an A at AS-level in further maths.

She said: “That is what I wanted. I really, really hoped I would get it, but it is all down to your performance on the day. I had my fingers crossed.”

Karen Turnbull, 18, of William Hopkinson Way, Newbiggin, got the academy’s first A* in sociology. She also picked up A grades in psychology and business.

Karen will now study sociology and social psychology at York University and hopes to become a secondary school teacher.

She said: “I am over the moon. I only needed three Bs so that is what I thought I would get, but what I got is obviously better.”

Among the other notable performers were John Mullaney and Alfie Birchall.

John, 18, of Thorntree Gardens, Ashington, picked up an A in biology and B grades in chemistry and psychology. He will now study chemistry at Newcastle University.

Alfie, 18, of Storey Crescent, Newbiggin, got two As for double ICT and a C in graphics. He plans to study game design at either Newcastle College or Northumbria University before a career making computer games.