A-LEVEL results in North Yorkshire are set to be among the top ten per cent in the country.

North Yorkshire County Council said while the full picture in the county was not yet known, "it appears that overall performance has risen again this year and there have been notable improvements for a number of schools".

In previous years, the region has been in the top ten per cent, and a spokeswoman said "it is likely the county will remain in the top-tier nationally for A-level results", with a higher proportion of pupils attending secondary schools which are good or outstanding - 91 per cent, compared to 82.6 per cent nationally.

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Executive member for schools, said: "We must congratulate all our young people for this great achievement and for their commitment and their hard work. These achievements place them in a good position to take up the higher education and training places that they choose.

"They can be confident they have a wide range of options and have been well prepared for the next step in their lives. These results are also a tribute to the support of families, the dedication of school staff and the quality of teaching in North Yorkshire."

Cllr Mulligan also praised the region's looked-after young people who were celebrating results, with some already accepted onto degree courses including criminology, sports management and journalism, and nine planning to start university this year.

He said: "We are very proud of the achievements of our looked-after children and prioritise continuity and stability in the support we give to them so that they have the chance to achieve to the best of their ability and go on to get qualifications and skills that will help them build a fulfilling future."