Another good year; Great results right across the borough.

THERE were success stories across Gateshead, as the borough's schools saw their A-level results improve for another year.

Whickham School achieved a perfect pass rate of 100% Headteacher Sue Muse said: "These are our best ever results with a pass rate of 100% and nearly half of all grades at A and B. "What is particularly pleasing is that students of all abilities have performed extremely well and that we have some excellent results in vocational as well as traditional A-levels.

"We want to congratulate all of our students on their success and wish them well for the future at university, further education or employment."

Whickham School student Jonathan Smith, 18, has chosen a different route to many of his classmates after getting an A, B and D in business studies, ICT and economics.

He has secured an apprenticeship with a Newcastle firm of accountants. He said: "I''ve always wanted to be an accountant since I was very young.

"I applied to university and was accepted at Sheffield, but I didn't fancy going into debt so I decided to get paid while doing my training and get all my train-inpaid for.

"I feel it is a far better option and I will have a job at the end of my training."

Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School, in Birtley, also achieved a pass rate of 100%. Headteacher David Grigg said: "We are delighted. Our average point score is more than 720, which will be amongst the best in the country.

"We have eight students who have straight As who will now go on to the best universities, including one student with a place at Cambridge.

"And the overwhelming majority will go to the universities of their choice. This is a fantastic testament to the hard work of all our teaching staff and students and I want to congratulate them all."

In addition, Hookergate School and Ryton Comprehensive both achieved a pass rate of 100%.

Hookergate headteacher Peter Crabtree said: "This is a really good set of results. We have achieved 100% pass rate for the second year in a row.

"Virtually all of our students wishing to go on to further education have got the results they need.

"Our AS results were also the best ever in terms of pass rates and students exceeding target grades. Congratulations to our students and thanks to our staff."

Ryton headteacher, Steve Williamson, said: "We are delighted with yet another strong performance of our students.

"Seven of them have achieved straight As and the groups' grade average point score has risen by the equivalent of almost one grade. "We wish to congratulate all the students and staff on their hard work."

Around 690 students from Gateshead schools collected their A-level results last week and figures show a pass rate of at least 99.4% across the borough.

Headteacher at St Thomas More Catholic School, in Blaydon, Jonathan Parkinson, said: "Another extremely good set of results. A testament to the dedication and hard work of staff and students alike and we wish all Year 13 students success for the future."

John Punshon, deputy headteacher at Joseph Swan School, in Saltwell Road South, said: "Joseph Swan School is proud of its students'' A-level and national results.

"The 98% pass rate illustrates our strong growth and improvement. The number of students achieving top grades has also improved and reflects the hard work by both staff and students."

Meanwhile, Heworth Grange Comprehensive School scored a pass rate 96.3%.

Headteacher Chris Richardson said: "Everybody at Heworth Grange is thrilled with the success of our post-16 students.

"They have worked very hard and the results they received will hopefully make it all seem worthwhile.

"Over a third of our students achieved A or B grades and, perhaps most importantly, it appears that the overwhelming majority of them have achieved the required standards to be able to continue their academic careers at the university or college of their choice."

CAPTION(S):

DELIGHTED Calum Sherwood, of Lord Lawson of Beamish School, Birtley, looks very happy as he sees his results for the first time.