PUPILS at Lady Lumley's School in Pickering have been picking up their A-level and AS results this morning.

Almost three quarters of A2 results were at grade C or above and the overall pass rate was 99 per cent.

Richard Bramley, headteacher, said: "We are really pleased that the overwhelming majority of students who are moving on to higher education have achieved grades that meet or exceed the entry requirements necessary to progress.

"This was in a year when many of the courses were new and the examinations unfamiliar to staff and students alike.

"We are proud of all the students who took examinations this year and who have worked hard to achieve the very best grades.

"Not every student will achieve the highest grades and we are always delighted when students produce an academic performance in line with, or even better than, their target grades."

The school said that particular individual successes included: Adam Croft who achieved AAB, Morwenna Davies AAB, Catlin Frith AAC, Ethan Lowe AAA, Josh Spittal AABB, Rory Talling A*AA Rebecca Williams A*AAB and Greg Wray AAB.

Josh Spittal, this year's head boy, is going on to do a four year course in genetics in Manchester, with a year in an industrial placement.

He said: "I'm thrilled, and a little bit overwhelmed - it's the end of 13 years of normal school, so it's kind of crazy."

Two of his exams were 'new' ones - physics and biology.

"They were pretty good - hard. There was a lot of knowledge to retain over two years. Just hard exams if I'm honest, but then they're called A-levels for a reason."

Year 12 pupils have also ben picking up their AS results.

Mr Bramley said: "This was, once again, a year of change, with most courses following new specifications with the corresponding uncertainty of the nature of the final examinations.

"For some subjects, these AS results are worth half the final A-level grades, for other subjects the AS examinations stand alone and will not be taken into account when the students take their A levels next year."

The school said that outstanding results were recorded by Elisha De-Alker and Katie Henson, who achieved A grades in all four of their subjects, and by Corey Eastwood, Harriet Eastwood , Bradley Hodgson, Michael Kipling and Meg Mansell who all achieved A grades in 3 subjects.

Mr Bramley added: "The sixth form cohort have been a lovely group of students to work with and they have been excellent role models for the school community.

"Being in a school-based sixth form brings both benefits and additional responsibilities and this cohort has clearly prospered at the school and, in turn, added value back to the community.

"We send all our best wishes for those students in Year 13 who are moving on to new challenges and adventures and we are looking forward to welcoming back this year’s Year 12 students who have built a strong foundation on which to support future success."