Sophie packs her bags for Oxford

Bury Grammar School top pupil and MENSA member Sophie, of The Coppice, Holcombe Brook, Bury, will follow her passion for numbers to Oxford's Keble College

The waiting was finally over yesterday when the borough's students got their A level results.

And all five local colleges and schools equalled or beat the national average pass rate of 95.4 per cent.

It was another good year for Bury Grammar School (Girls) which equalled last year's record overall pass rate of 99.6% and has beaten the 2002 record for passes at A and B grades where they have achieved 74.8%.

Nearly a quarter of the year group have achieved at least three grade A passes and the great majority of them have added to these with more A grades at AS level.

Headteacher Bobby Georghiou said: "I am absolutely delighted with these excellent results which mean that our students will now move on to prestigious degree courses in the UK's top universities. We are very proud of our Upper Sixth students and congratulate them all upon their achievements. They are real stars."

The top student was Sophie Kershaw of The Coppice, Holcombe Brook who has achieved five grade A passes in Biology, Chemistry, Latin, Mathematics and Further Mathematics along with a further grade A in General Studies at AS. Sophie is also one of just five top candidates in the whole of the country out of 13,010 candidates in Biology.

She said: "I've been at the school since I was four-years-old so it's really nice to leave on a high note."

Her achievement has earned Sophie a place at Keble College, Oxford, where she will be reading mathematics. Sophie describes maths as her passion and she has already joined MENSA and hopes to have a career in mathematical research.

Mrs Georghiou, described Sophie as a "shining light". She said: "It is not just that Sophie is very clever, although she undoubtedly has a very fine mind, but she also really enjoys studying and has lived her school life to the full. We are all delighted for her. She thoroughly deserves her success. I think this is only just the beginning."

Over the road at Bury Grammar School (Boys) there was a 97.4 per cent pass rate, with more than half of all subject entries producing an A or B grade.

Headteacher Keith Richards said: "Seventy-seven candidates made 306 A level subject entries including 60 entries in General Studies. There were 84 grade A's; 86 grade B's, 75 grade C's, 41 grade D's and 12 grade E's."

Outstanding pupils included headboy Chris Ullathorne, from Croich Green, Hawkshaw, who along with George Hutchinson of Rawtenstall, and Adam Walker of Sandgate Road, Whitefield, all achieved top marks after sitting 5 A levels.

When asked if he believed that exams were being dumbed down, George, who is to study engineering at Cambridge University, said: "Well they should try sitting the exams, particularly the maths!"

Holy Cross College in Bury had its best ever A level results with an overall pass rate of 97.5 per cent.

Seven students gained five A grades and five students of the Manchester Road college are preparing for the dreaming spires of Oxford and Cambridge universities.

College principal Mr Mike O'Hare said: "I am absolutely delighted with these results, they are certainly the best that the college has achieved, and they confirm OFSTED's view that the college is in the top 20 nationally in terms of A Level results."

Early indications are that the A Level pass rate is 97.5 per cent compared with a national average this year of 95.4 per cent and a pass rate of 97.0 per cent at this stage last summer.

He added: "These results run alongside those on our vocational A levels where students have achieved outstanding results with a pass rate of 97.4 per cent (well in excess of the national average of 83.8 per cent).

"When you consider that these results have been achieved in the context of a 97 per cent student retention rate, which we think is the second highest in the country, they represent a tremendous achievement. They are a great credit to staff and students."

The overall pass rate for the AS examinations stands at 91.6 per cent which is up on last years figure of 89.7 per cent and the national average of 86.7 per cent.

Bury College matched the national average with a pass rate of 95 per cent and 18 courses managed a 100 per cent success rate.

Among those clutching their grade papers at the entrance were students on their way to Oxbridge and a candidate with one of the best marks for his subject in the country.

Principal Dr Helen Gilchrist said: "Our students and staff are to be congratulated on another year's excellent results which reflect the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.We have seen significant progress in students' success in key academic areas."

Robert Innes, of Shelley Road, Prestwich, had scored one of the top five marks in the country with his exam board for Computing. He also gained A-grades in Maths, Further Maths and Physics.

The 18-year-old, a former pupil of Prestwich High, plans to study Maths and Computing at Manchester University.

Robert said: "It's hard to describe how I felt on the way in, but I was a bit nervous. My hands shook as I was taking the results from the desk.

"It was a shock to see that I had done so well and I don't think that it has sunk in yet, but when it does I will be rather happy."

Future Cambridge student Katie Bentley-Chan (18), of Brandlesholme Road, Bury, has scored A-grades in English, History and German.

The former Elton High pupil will study English at Trinity College and plans to travel.

She said: "My hands were shaking when I picked up the results. I was really nervous because it all pretty much rested on them. Once I had worked out how I'd done and let it filter through I was thrilled."

Former Tottington High pupil Jennifer Peters (18), of Great Stone Close, Radcliffe, was phoning home with news of her A-grades in Law, English and Media Studies.

Jennifer, who plans to study law at Manchester University and may become a solicitor, said: "I didn't believe it and was really shocked. I felt so ill before I saw the results. I had no idea of how I had done because the exams were so long ago that I really can't remember."

Among the other success stories were Bury student Ryan McNulty, who managed three A's at A level and an A-grade at AS level.

Former Bury Grammar pupil Adam Smith, from Radcliffe, is heading for Oxbridge after achieving three A grades.

And Prestwich student Heather Taylor, a former Parrenthorn High pupil, was celebrating three A grades at A level and two B's at AS level.

In addition to its A level results, the college also saw more than 450 students complete vocational courses, with pass rates for National Diplomas above the national average.

Manchester Jewish Grammar School in Charlton Avenue, Prestwich, had 19 students sitting 62 A level subjects. Of the 61 who achieved passes, approximately 60 per cent were at grades A and B.

Two boys took their examinations a year early. They are Jackie Brysh of Merrybower Road, Salford, who gained A grades in Chemistry, English, Maths and and Physics and Yanky Graham of Cavendish Road, Prestwich, who got A grades at Maths, Further Maths and Physics and an A grade at AS level Chemistry.

Headteacher Mr Phaivish Pink said: "Congratulations to all the boys who achieved their results whilst devoting each morning to Religious Studies."

The overall pass rate at the school was 98 per cent.

Students with questions about their exam results or needing guidance on how to formally follow up on enquiries can now find answers quickly through exam zone, a new student-dedicated website created by awarding body Edexcel.

The new service, which includes a telephone helpline, provides students with information on the exam process, what their results mean and answers questions on how to proceed if they have any queries. It also has useful links to other sites including the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

HERE was developed with exam officers, students and parents to ensure the right questions are being answered.