STUDENTS across Bury were celebrating their A-mazing success as four schools and colleges boasted pass rates above the national average.

Scores of teenagers wore huge smiles yesterday (Thurs Aug 17) as their A-level results put them on the path to their future studies or careers.

Top marks, outstripping the national average A-level pass rate of 89 per cent, went to:

Manchester Jewish Grammar School in Prestwich who passed with flying colours, notching a 98.6 per cent pass rate.

Bury Grammar School (Girls) who had a 98.1 per cent pass rate, with 64 per cent of passes achieving an A or B. Bury Grammar School (Boys) who chalked up a 92.1 per cent pass rate.

Holy Cross College achieved its highest-ever pass rate of 91 per cent

Only Bury College, with a pass rate of 86 per cent fell slightly below the national average, but the figure equalled its pass rate for 1998 and 1999.

Nationally the girls outperformed their male classmates in the A-grade stakes for the first time. The trend was supported by the superior A-level pass rates at Bury Grammar School for Girls compared with the boys' school.

Holy Cross student Rachel Halsall (18), of Knowsley Road, Ainsworth, also reinforced girl power when her English Literature mark put her in the top five for the whole country. More than 19,000 took the exam.

Miss Caroline Thompson, head teacher of Bury Grammar School (Girls) said the Millennium had heralded excellent results for pupils: "It has been a veritable 'annus mirabilis' for our A-level students."

Other head teachers in Bury expressed similar delight at the number of students gaining A-level passes.

A growing culture of laddism was blamed for boys coming out second best to the girls. The number of A-grade female candidates was 18.1 per cent nationally, compared with 17.5 per cent for boys.

Leading educationalist Dr Mary James, of Cambridge University, said magazines such as Loaded and FHM encouraged a "lad culture" which was "anti-work".