TEACHERS are "proud and delighted" that nearly 20 per cent of the Sixth Formers leaving Yarm School this summer have gained places at dentistry and medical schools.

Simon Crabtree, head of careers at Yarm School, said: "Out of 96 Sixth Form leavers this year, 17 are going on to universities around the country to study medicine and dentistry. This is a record number and is an achievement of which we are immensely proud as a school."

He added: "Over the last five years, 70 of our students have been accepted on such courses. The universities require academic excellence but the ability to communicate well, and the quality of work experience, is extremely important to them, too."

The school has long-established links with businesses and organisations in many different sectors where they place students for work experience. Prospective medics and dentists visit hospitals and doctors' and dentists' surgeries. They are able to shadow the practitioners as they go about their daily work and even scrub up and observe operations.

Mr Crabtree said: "Our school seeks to prepare pupils academically and socially for work. The medical universities are looking for well-rounded individuals who care about the people they will be treating. They are looking for that old fashioned bedside manner.

"Those who want to work in medicine and dentistry are often among our most engaged students. They're the rugby players, the musicians, they've done the Duke of Edinburgh Award, they visit our prep school and help out."