IT is A for Astounding Achievement at Emmanuel College, in Gateshead, today as students learn they have smashed even their own high-ranking college's previous records.
With 41 per cent of all grades being A better, the college is set to reaffirm its position as the region's highest performing state secondary school.
Its best ever A level results include 91 per cent of all grades being at C or better within an overall 100 per cent pass rate.
The top ten students are:
With four A*s - Alex Chadwick, Bart Forsyth, Daniel Huddart and Callum Jessop, who is studying in Berlin for a year;
Alex Chadwick, 18, of Gateshead, said: “My teachers were excellent at helping me overcome any challenges that I faced. I’m going to study medicine in Leicester and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
With three A*s – Jacob Armstrong, Kirstin Forrest, Stefan Spence, Douglas Thomas, Nicola Hall and Peter Winch.
Stefan Spence, 18, of Newcastle, said: “I’m really happy with my results and I’m sad to leave but I look forward to going to Durham University to study physics.”
Nicola Hall, 18, originally from South Africa, said: “I’ve loved it at Emmanuel College. The support I have had from teachers has been overwhelming and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Thirty seven students (nearly a third of the year group) have three A grades or better. They are Muhammad Abdullah, Katie Ackerley, Jacob Armstrong, Jason Boyle, Niall Carolan, Alexander Chadwick, Rebecca Cruxton, Niamh Cuthbert, Jayne Emmett, Harry Fitzjohn, Kristin Forrest, Alex Forster, Bartholomew Forsyth, Ciaran Grant, James Haikney, Nicola Hall, Sophie Holland, Caitlin Hood, Daniel Huddart, Joanne Ingham, Callum Jessop, Ben Little, Jennifer Merrix, Emma Old, Emily Ord, Mahbub Rahman, Simon Ramshaw, Liam Richardson, Catherine Robson, Stefan Spence, Niamh Storey, Stuart Tann, Douglas Thomas, Abby Toal, Joel Willmore, Peter Winch, Ryan Wright.
Four students, all linguists, have secured places at Oxford or Cambridge Universities. Jacob Armstrong is to read English and German at Oxford University; Joel Wilmore, to read German at Oxford, completing a family double as he follows his sister Hannah; Douglas Thomas, reading Classics at Cambridge University, also following his sister, Elspeth; and Peter Winch, who will read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge.
Peter, who is the son of Emmanuel Principal Jonathan Winch, is to spend a year in Berlin working with a local church and school before heading to Cambridge. Peter, 18, of Gateshead, got a 99 per cent pass in maths and 95 per cent in German, said: “The teachers at Emmanuel inspired me, they put in the extra hours to help me out with things and really went the extra mile. I can’t thank them enough. I am looking forward to starting my course at Cambridge.”
Mr Winch said: "This is a magical year for Emmanuel College, with almost all records broken. Our approach is always to put character first, as we believe that grades will follow, and these results reflect exceptional integrity and determination.
“It’s a particular pleasure to congratulate students on their success; they have it in them to be world-changers.”
Other top performers include:
Medics and dentists: Muhammad Abdullah, Alex Chadwick, Ryan Wright, Harry Fitzjohn, Daniel Huddart, Jennifer Merrix, Alex Forster (medics); and Sophie Holland, who is to study dentistry;
In engineering, girls have given top performances with Rebecca Cruxton, Niamh Cuthbert and Caitlin Hood achieving Triple Distinction Star.
Despite being a specialist City Technology College Emmanuel excels in the creative arts. Dancer Rachael Ward has secured a scholarship at the renowned Cambridge Performing Arts School, one of the leading establishments in the country, to study musical theatre including singing, acting and dancing. Rachael won the Northumberland modern dance championships and was runner up in the ballet competition last year. Musicians Andy Bell and Catherine Robson have secured places to study music at university after jointly orchestrating an Einaudi piano concerto which premiered at The Sage in July with Andy conducting.
A number of Emmanuel students have combined top academic performances with the college spirit of giving.
Ciaran Grant, who is to study social policy at the London School of Economics with three grade As and a further A at AS level, is spending his summer on the streets of New Jersey, working with the charity Urban Promise. Ciaran worked worked with Gateshead ex-offenders and addicts throughout his time in the Sixth Form.
Rebecca Cruxton, who is to train to be a technology teacher at Edge Hill University after securing a triple Distinction Star grade in Engineering and a B in A level technology, served as National Youth Ambassador for St John Ambulance while in the sixth form, mixing with royalty and acting as a host for the organisation’s Commandant-in-Chief The Princess Royal. Rebecca also addressed a congregation of thousands in St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Emily Ord, who is to study English at Newcastle University, having achieved two A*s and an A, is currently serving as an outdoor education volunteer among children of Ndubaluba, Zambia. Her interest was sparked when she joined the Emmanuel Schools Foundation annual volunteering expedition last year, and she chose to return as soon as possible.
Motorcycle champion Chrissy Rouse has combined gaining Bs in maths and physics with winning the 2013 Triumph Triple Challenge Championship. He is now competing in the 2014 Moto2 FIM CEV Repsol International Championship.