Young people in North Tyneside are celebrating today (August 18) after receiving the best ever A-level results, with the borough’s grades once again above the national average.
A-level students across North Tyneside are now preparing for a future in employment or at university after achieving the best academic and vocational results compared to previous years.
Congratulating the young people, North Tyneside Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn said: “I would like to say a huge well done to all of our young people.
“These fantastic results are testimony to the dedication, commitment and achievements of the students as well as the school staff and governors. I would also like to thank the families of the young people for their support.
“I am incredibly proud of our young people and I wish all them all the best for the future.”
Cllr Ian Grayson, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Learning added: “Congratulations to all of the young people – they have worked really hard to achieve these brilliant results.
“North Tyneside Council is committed to raising educational performance for every child and it is extremely encouraging to see our results improve year-on-year, as well as 92 per cent of our schools now being rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.”
At George Stephenson High School, in Killingworth, 100 per cent of students passed, with 48 per cent achieving all grades at A* to B and 70 per cent at A* to C.
Headteacher Ian Wilkinson said: “We are delighted with the A-level results again this year. They are a testament to the hard work from our students and teaching staff. They have worked very hard and deserve these excellent grades. The vast majority of our students are now going to go on to their first or second choice university place and we would like to wish them every success in the future.”
Twin brothers Peter and Richard Anderson, aged 18, were delighted to accomplish five A*s and one A between them. Peter is going on to read chemical engineering at Cambridge University and Richard will be moving to Warwick to read maths.
Peter said: “I am really happy and really relieved – I’ve got exactly what I need to get into university.”
Elsewhere in the borough, Churchill Community College, in Wallsend, also surpassed its results from 2015. Students are celebrating after 70 per cent of A-level grades were achieved at A*to B grades.
David Baldwin, headteacher, said: “Once again, our Year 13 students have achieved excellent final results and will now take up well deserved places in highly selective universities and apprenticeship schemes. It is wonderful to see so many A* to B grades this year for our students, but this is only half the story. This is a year group who have achieved a great deal in addition to their academic success. They will go on to continued success beyond Churchill Community College and are fantastic role models for our current students and our new students coming into Year 7. We are absolutely full in Year 7 because of more parents making Churchill the secondary school of choice for their child”.
Student Ryan Thompson, who will go on to study biology at Newcastle University, said: “My results have given me a great chance to go and study biology in more depth, which I’m looking forward to as it’s a subject I’m really interested in. I can’t wait to get started and hopefully it will be the start of a successful career for me.”
Monkseaton High School also achieved a 100 per cent pass rate at A-level and in vocational qualifications. Students are now going on to study at universities, with five young people even offered football scholarships at universities in America, or moving into apprenticeships or employment.
Headteacher Tracy Crowder said: “We are delighted with this year’s results and are once again incredibly proud of all our students, who have worked extremely hard. With these results and our recent ‘outstanding’ Ofsted, we have so much to celebrate here at Monkseaton High School.”
Monkseaton High School student Tufayl Hannan achieved one A* and two As, he said: “It’s more than I was expecting, I’m thrilled. I’m planning to celebrate today and I’m going London to study medicine.”
Whitley Bay High School Sixth Form students also achieved outstanding A-level results. These included 22 students achieving three or more A* or A grades across their subjects. And a further 54 students achieved at least the A,B,B grades needed to send them to the top universities across the country.
Headteacher, Steve Wilson said: "These results reflect the exceptional hard work of our excellent students and the incredible efforts of our staff. Our students and their families should be very proud of their achievements."
Georgia Downey was delighted with her results, achieving one A* and two As. Georgia said “I am absolutely elated with my results — I am over the moon! My family are on holiday at the moment but I rang them to tell them and they are so proud of what I have achieved. I have learned so much during my time here at Whitley Bay and it has been fantastic, but I am eager to go to York University where I will be studying English.”
Notes to editors:
The information given relates to results from Burnside Business and Enterprise College, Churchill Community College, George Stephenson High School, Longbenton Community College, Monkseaton High School, Seaton Burn Community College, Whitley Bay High School