THOUSANDS of A-level students from across East Lancashire were celebrating results day yesterday, with early indications suggesting a higher-than-the-national-average pass-rate for the county.

Schools and colleges from around East Lancashire boasted of pass-rates of over 99 per cent, while the national average sat a little lower at 97.6 per cent - meaning students in the area have achieved some of the best results in the country.

Lancashire County Council schools boss Susie Charles said that the early indications showed that many young people in schools and colleges across Lancashire had performed ‘very well’.

She said: “I’d like to congratulate all the young people who’ve been recognised for their hard work, and also the teachers who have supported them.

“I wish them all every success as they move on to the next stage of their lives, whatever they choose to do.”

Lancashire exceeded both regional and national achievements for all qualifications last year, and the early results demonstrate that standards are remaining high in schools and colleges.

One institution which said their students had produced record-breaking results was Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, with three of their students accepting places at Oxford University.

Lisa Dolan, headteacher of the college, said: “I am delighted on behalf of our students who have achieved outstanding results in a very competitive environment and gained access to such prestigious universities.

“Paige Williams and Brittany Cooper, who will both be attending Oxford, will be the first in their family to go to university.

“I am proud of all of our students. They work so hard to achieve and their success has been made possible by their own determination and the incredible hard work and commitment of our specialist teaching and support staff.”

Over in Burnley, staff and students at Thomas Whitham Sixth Form were celebrating the fact that 90 per cent of their students will be leaving the college with at least one high-grade pass each.

Principal Zoe Emmett said “We are a very small sixth form and therefore we invest a huge amount of time and effort into our students as individuals.

“We have seen our results improve with more higher grades and our students will be going to some of the best universities in the country.”

Individual students also shone through with exceptional results received by pupils at Blackburn College, Nelson and Colne College, Clitheroe Grammar School, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School and Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School, both Blackburn.

One such case was with George Hutchings, from St Mary’s College, Blackburn, who will be moving overseas to carry out his further education after bagging himself an impressive tennis scholarship in America.

George, 18, from Copster Green, gained a place at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley studying international business, also playing tennis for the university alongside his studies.

Students and staff at Blackburn College were also celebrating as students collected their results as numbers revealed that the number of high grades continued to grow.

Dr Thomas Moore, principal and chief executive of Blackburn College, was delighted with the results.

He said: “The increase in the numbers of A* to B grades and a two per cent increase in A* and A grades is great to see and is a sign of the hard work of our students and staff.

“Blackburn College will enter 2018/19 celebrating an 100 per cent A-level pass rate in 23 A-level subjects which includes subjects such as biology, fine art, history, government and politics, economics and law.”

Celebrations continued at Nelson and Colne College as tears of joy and shining smiles filled the college cafe with students celebrating ‘outstanding’ results and a 99 per cent pass rate.

Those who didn’t get a place sorted out yesterday are reminded to remain positive if their results didn’t get them in to their university of choice.

Last year almost 62,000 students got into university through the clearing process. Visit www.ucas.com.