ST Mary’s Catholic High School is celebrating an ‘outstanding’ set of A-level and vocational results.

With students all over the country having sat exams for the newly-reformed A-levels for the first time, St Mary’s achieved an almost perfect 99 per cent A* to E grade pass rate.

A total of 55 per cent of the grades were A*/A or their equivalent, with 70 per cent falling in the A* to B range and 88 per cent being A*s to Cs.

Andrew Dawson, head teacher at the school on Manchester Road in Astley, is delighted with how the students have performed in a changing examination landscape

He said: “The results that the students have achieved are outstanding and we are really very proud that more than one in every two grades is either an A* or an A.

“These excellent results say so much about our young people. They are a reflection of their innate ability, hard work and determination.

“We all know though that natural ability needs to be nurtured, challenged and channelled and I thank all the staff within the school who have supported our students academically and pastorally, which is all the more difficult with so many new examinations.

“These results are the key to enable our students to confidently take their next step in life to university, further training or work.

“I am very proud of the fact that in the past five years every student who has applied to university through St Mary’s has gained a place.”

Chair of governors Jack Farrimond offered ‘sincere congratulations to all the students and the results they have achieved’.

He added: “It is a real testament to their hard work and the support they have received from their family and the school.”

Director of sixth form Adam Robinson said: “St Mary’s sixth form is very much an inclusive community with 36 different subjects and qualifications on offer to enable all students to find the right course to become successful.

“We work to celebrate the success of every student.

“Each qualification is a recognition both of two years of hard work for the student and two years of support and challenge from the school.”

The sixth form attracts students from both St Mary’s Catholic High School and local partner schools.

Numerous students achieved excellent grades to enable them to take their next steps in life.

Among the students who achieved at least three As or Distinction* grades were Rachel Ball, who is going to study physiotherapy at the University of Liverpool, Lewis Barton and Hannah Charnock, who are to read geography and biosciences respectively at Durham University, and Joseph Coll and Cameron McGuiness, who are to undertake mechanical engineering and sports and exercise science respectively at Loughborough University.

Chloe Blythe is to follow a business and management course at Edgehill and Rachel Whitley is to undertake a degree in special educational needs, disabilities and inclusion at Worcester.

Successful students are also embarking on high quality apprenticeship courses.

Daniel Adamson and Jaya Rabadia, who each achieved seven Distinction*s, are taking up engineering apprenticeships.

Mr Dawson added: Today is also a poignant day as we remember our friend and student Niall Dearnaley, who achieved so much.

"Niall was a much loved and respected young man who died suddenly on May 7.

"His loss devastated the whole community and while we celebrate the success of our students today we remember Niall and keep his loving family in our thoughts and prayers.

"His parents and the school are very proud that Niall achieved a double distinction* in his sport studies and a distinction* in his Engineering course."