THE waiting was over for thousands of students yesterday as celebrations got underway for a bumper year of GCSE pass rates.

Many schools and colleges across the region recorded their best results, with scores of individual success stories.

In Darlington, the average A* to C pass rate was 48.7 per cent - up 1.5 per cent on last year.

At King James I Community College, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, 31 per cent of pupils recorded five A* to C grades - a three per cent increase on last year.

Headteacher Ed Lott said: "Many of our youngsters have worked very hard, coming back to our community classes in the evenings to complete extra work, and they are now reaping the benefits."

In North Yorkshire, students at Northallerton College were celebrating an A* to C pass rate in five subjects of 55.1 per cent.

Among the star performers were twins Ailsa and Frances Burrows. Ailsa collected 12 A*s while her sister went home with six A*s and six As.

College principal Jennifer Slater said: "These are excellent results, not only for individuals, but across the board."

At Richmond School, more than two thirds of pupils obtained at least five A* to C grades and the total A* to C pass rate was 63.7 per cent - two per cent up on last year.

Headteacher Jim Jack said: "What particularly impresses are the strides made by many of the students over the last two years, with some individuals overcoming serious illness or difficult personal circumstances during the GCSE period to record quite outstanding successes."

At Barnard Castle School, County Durham, the girls shone, with almost a quarter of all their exams resulting in A* grades, with two thirds A* or A grades and an A* to C pass rate of 96 per cent. The school's overall A* to C pass rate was 85 per cent - up one per cent on last year.

Headteacher Michael Featherstone said: "They, their teachers and their parents have all had a hand in their successes."

Pupils in Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's schools were celebrating 49 per cent of pupils passing five or more A* to C grades - a 5.4 per cent increase.

In Hartlepool, the results were the best in the authority's history with 42 per cent of pupils receiving five A* to C grades.

Katherine wins her battle for health and top marks

A pupil is celebrating after collecting nine A*s in her GCSEs - despite spending months in hospital battling an eating disorder.

Katherine Hay, 16, a pupil at Emmanuel College, Gateshead, fell victim to anorexia last year after convincing herself she was overweight.

The bright pupil began a strict regime of dieting and exercise and her 12st frame quickly slimmed to just over six and a half stones.

She spent four months in Newcastle General Hospital overcoming the disorder before gradually reintegrating herself into classroom life.

Yesterday, she said: ''I couldn't believe my grades. I thought I would get a mixture of As and Bs.

I was shocked, I honestly wasn't expecting what I got.''

Katherine is now planning to take civics, chemistry and English literature at A-level, with the possible view of going in to psychiatry.

A fellow pupil at the college, who scored 13 A* GCSEs, is insisting that he is still "one of the lads".

Paul Cellini said he did not spend his life with his head buried in books - even though he had secured some of the top grades in the country.

The 16-year-old, who is hoping to pursue a career in business management and finance, said: ''I like to think that I am kind of one of the lads as well. I like football, I like art and I play for the school basketball team. I just love having a good time with my friends.''

The star foreign student

WHEN Korean student In Kwon Choi started at a North-East school four years ago, he could not speak any English.

Yesterday, the Yarm School student, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, was celebrating receiving six A* grade GCSEs along with a B in English language and an A in German.

Other Yarm School successes included Greg Jones, 16, of Northallerton who scored ten A*s plus an A in additional maths, and Richard Lywood, of Hutton Rugby, who received nine A*s and an A in additional maths.

Almost 15 per cent of pupils achieved A* grades and 94.6 per cent of them received A* to C grades.

Headteacher David Dunn said: "These results are very pleasing, in particular the exceptional number of top grades achieved by our students."

Elsewhere in the region, a Middlesbrough school was celebrating the best results of its 19-year history.

At Keldholme School, 22 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades. Along with Langbaurgh School, Keldholme is being replaced with a Unity City Academy in September.

Ron Hewitt, retiring headteacher, said: "This is the best birthday present we could have given the Unity City Academy."

The pupil with a career dream

A TEENAGER is a step closer to her dream of becoming a barrister after gaining impressive GCSE results.

Rebecca Khan, 16, a pupil at Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive School, near Bishop Auckland, gained eight A* and three A grades.

Rebecca, of Mayfields, Spennymoor, County Dur-ham, will now study English literature, history, psychology and law at Queen Elizabeth Sixth College, Darlington.

She hopes to study law at university and eventually become a barrister.

Rebecca said: "I was really nervous when I went to pick up my results. I'm really pleased I've done well as it will help my future."

John Yeomans, acting headteacher at the school, said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the results of the whole school. We've improved on last year across the board and 49.7 per cent of the year group gained five or more A* to C grades.

"It's a credit to the hard work of students and staff that we've had this success.

"There have been some wonderful individual performances, especially Rebecca, and the whole school is very proud of her."

The brightest spark

A BRIGHT spark has landed one of the highest English GCSE marks in the country.

Katie Reed, a pupil at Bishop Barrington School, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, gained one of the top five marks in the country out of 362,913 students who sat the dual award English literature and language exam.

The rest of Katie's results also made impressive reading as she was awarded six A*, three A and two B grades.

The 16 year-old, from Cockton Hill, said: "I was really pleased to see my results, especially with the letter from AQA examiners congratulating me on my English result.

"I put in lots of hard work and went to revision classes, and the school held extra ones during study leave to keep us focused."

As reported in yesterday's Northern Echo the school, which was heavily criticised by Ofsted inspectors eight years ago, has doubled last year's pass rates. The number of students achieving A* to C grades has risen from 20 per cent to 41 per cent.

Headteacher Keith Cotgrave said: "Overall, myself and all other staff, are thrilled with the school's results."

Pass rates prove that small is beautiful

YOUNGSTERS at a small college celebrated yesterday as the exam pass rate more than doubled.

The 97 GCSE students at Moorside Community College, near Consett, County Durham, enjoyed exam success as pass levels rose from 21 per cent last year to more than 44 per cent.

Headteacher Karen Robson said: "It is down to hard work, dedicated teachers and lots of revision classes. We also have been inculcating a can-do attitude among the students."

It follows Ofsted inspectors' praise last year for the way the school was run.

"Our Ofsted report last year looked at good practice and the proof is in these exam results," said Mrs Robson. "It is a lovely little school and this proves that small is beautiful."