STUDENTS from St Helens have soared to super A-Level success.

Their results showed an overall pass rate of 86 per cent - five times larger than the national increase.

Education director Colin Hilton enthused: "This is excellent news. It means many students will have the results they need to go on to the universities or colleges of their choice. The results are due to the hard work of our young people in St Helens and the teachers in the schools."

Carmel College was just one of the local sixth form colleges that did extremely well. The college boasted an overall pass rate of 95 per cent. Four of their students achieved an outstanding five grade As, 24 students achieved four grade As and 86 students achieved three grade As.

Principal Peter Rushton said: "We are delighted so many individual students did so well, it is a tribute to their hard work and determination. The success has been due to outstanding students, outstanding teachers and a system of individual student monitoring which challenges and supports students to achieve high target grades."

Rainhill High Sixth Form College also obtained excellent A-level exam results. Head of sixth form Mr Williamson said: "These are our best results ever and credit must be given to our wonderful students and teachers."

Two Rainhill High sixth form students gained five grade As - Helen Balshaw, who has a place at Oxford University to read law, and Paul Chambers, who is to read physics at Imperial College, London. Many other students obtained high results and secured places to universities all over the country.

Once again Rainford High sixth form increased their overall pass rate and have a record number of eight 'Oxbridge' places. Four students gained five grade As - Andrew Aspden, Helen Hartley, Laura Hamilton and Stuart Crabtree.

Mrs O'Hare, head of Rainford sixth form, said she was delighted with the results.

St Aelred's Catholic School, Newton-le-Willows, had continued success in their A-level results. Two students will go on to read for degrees at Oxford - Anthony Pike, who is to read mathematics at St Edmund Hall and David Higgins, who is to read physics at Magdalen College.

Deputy headteacher John McManus was delighted with his school's results which have improved significantly over the last five years.

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