THERE were tears of joy for A level students at Teesdale School when they picked up their results last week after achieving some impressive marks in their exams.
Teesdale’s results have improved with more than a quarter of grades awarded at A*, A or distinction and three-quarters receiving C or above.
Among the bumper crop of high flyers was Evie Ridgeway, who managed a clean sweep of A grades in English literature, history and sociology.
Ms Ridgeway will be going on to study anthropology at the University of Bristol.
Sadie Askwith, 18, from Mickleton, had already received an unconditional offer from Manchester University before the results were announced.
The university were impressed with her portfolio at an earlier interview, however, this didn’t diminish her achievement of two A* grades in art and English literature as well as a B in history.
Miss Askwith, 18, is looking forward to studying art history.
Her best friend Scarlett Ballantine, 18, from Cotherstone, achieved an A* in sociology and Bs in psychology and history – enough to secure her place at Newcastle University where she will be studying politics and sociology.
The teenager couldn’t help shedding a tear of happiness once she had opened her results envelope.
She said she was pretty relaxed about getting the results, unlike her mother who insisted on waking her at 7am.
As one of those going on to an apprenticeship, Lucy Blackburn has plenty to be proud of after achieving As in English literature and sociology and a C in history – impressive given she had not studied this subject at GCSE.
Lucy has already started an apprenticeship in human resources with Cummins UK.
Poppy Taylor, 18, said she was pleased with her three Cs in English Language, Art and History and will be taking a year out before deciding whether to go on to university.
She will be working on an apprenticeship in business administration at a firm in Spennymoor dealing in higher education in the meantime.
Dr Simon Henderson, Teesdale School’s head of sixth form said: “I am incredibly proud of what our students have achieved against a difficult national picture.
“Our students have worked hard and once again proved that staying local and seeing their studies through at Teesdale is leading them to achieve great results and giving them a great advantage.
“We are very proud that we continue to send a significant number of students to top universities, but we are equally delighted that some of our students progress to very competitive apprenticeship programmes.”
Dr Janice Gorlach, executive headteacher added: “Yet again, our students have shown that determination, resilience and hard work pays off with another set of fantastic A level results.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to our staff for their hard work and commitment and to the students’ families who have supported them every step of the way.
“We are delighted that so many students are moving on to study at universities and colleges across the country and others are taking up apprenticeships.
“We hope that the life skills they have learned while being at Teesdale Sixth Form will stay with them forever,” she said.
