STUDENTS across East Lancashire bucked the trend for the second year running after a rise in top A-level grades despite a fall nationally.

Youngsters celebrated after record numbers achieved the results needed to get into their chosen universities.

Many had overcome adversaries to achieve their top marks.

Nationally, the number of students receiving A* and A grades fell for the fifth year in a row to 25.8 per cent, down from 25.9 per cent.

The majority of colleges and sixth forms in East Lancashire achieved or surpassed the overall pass rate nationally of 98 per cent.

Bacup and Rossendale Grammar School recorded it’s best ever results with 72.3 per cent achieving top grades of A* to B.

The results were seven per cent higher than it’s previous best with a record 44.7 per cent achieving A*s and As.

Headteacher Alan Porteous said: “We are absolutely delighted with these results which are our best ever by a significant margin.

“For a non-selective sixth form like BRGS this is a fantastic achievement.

“Credit for these results goes first to our students for their hard work and effort over the past two years, and secondly to our dedicated team of teaching staff.”

Alder Grange Sixth Form in Rawtenstall was also celebrating an increase in A and A* grades with students achieving a 100 per cent pass rate in 20 subjects this year.

Headteacher David Hampson said: “We are delighted with these results and what this group of students have achieved.

“The increased percentage of A and A* grades at A-level is particularly pleasing.

“They are a truly talented group who can be rightly proud of what they have accomplished.”

Students at Burnley College also achieved above average results with a 99.6 per cent pass rate and 63 per cent achieving at least one top A* to B grade.

Records were also broken with further maths students all achieving A* and A grades.

The results show 89 per cent achieved at least one A* to C grade while 63 per cent of students got at least one A* to B grade.

Principal Hugh Bramwell said the whole college was proud of the students.

He said: “Results day is the day of the academic year when everybody’s hard work comes together for a fantastic result and we could not be happier with today’s outcome.”

Nelson and Colne College recorded a 99.9 per cent pass rate with more than half achieving A* to B grades.

Many students are going on to study at top universities including Oxford, Warwick and Manchester.

All further maths students achieved A* to C grades, up from 78 per cent last year, while there was a 14 per cent rise in A* to C grades in psychology and an 11 per cent rise in English Language.

Principal Amanda Melton said: “It is always an absolute pleasure to see our students and staff jumping for joy on A-level results day and I could not be prouder that we are announcing a 99.9 per cent pass rate for our A-level students.”

Thomas Whitham Sixth Form in Burnley also achieved an impressive overall pass rate of 99 per cent.

The maths students achieved an “unprecedented” level of 47 per cent at A* to A while across the school 63 per cent achieved A* to C grades.

Headteacher Brendan Conboy said: “I can only be full of praise for our fantastic students who have reaped the rewards for their hard work and we will be thrilled to hear how they progress on their degree courses at the best universities in the country.”

Haslingden High School and Sixth Form saw 16 per cent of all A-level grades awarded A or A*.

The pass rate was 99 per cent while 41 per cent achieved A* to B grades.

Mark Jackson, headteacher, said: “I am delighted that the hard work put in by staff and students alike has once again paid off.

“Our students’ success is thoroughly deserved and I am delighted that the vast majority of them are now embarking on courses at their first choice university.”