A-LEVEL pass rates reached a record high yesterday with thousands of students celebrating top grades.

Some schools even boasted 100 per cent pass rates, while many others recorded dramatic improvements on last year's grades.

Results at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington were at an all time high with an overall pass rate of 97 per cent and A and B grades totalling 44.6 per cent.

Principal David Heaton said: "The college is moving in on a 100 per cent pass rate with almost 50 per cent achieving the top two grades and, given the high number of entries, this is a superb achievement."

At Hartlepool College of Further Education, Rachel Greenhaff, from Peterlee, got four A grades, including a media mark which put her in the top five in the country.

The girls at Teesside High, in Eaglescliffe, were also celebrating the best A-level results in the school's history with 42 per cent achieving a grade A.

At Stockton Sixth Form College, the pass rate was 95 per cent.

Principal Howard Clarke said: "We are delighted that for the third year running our students have done exceptionally well. Their achievement is due to the hard work and commitment of students and staff, with parents playing an important role in encouragement and support."

Meanwhile, the pass rate at Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough, increased by five per cent with 13 students securing at least four A grades.

In North Yorkshire, the average pass rate was 96 per cent and a quarter of those who were successful managed A grades.

North Yorkshire County Council's education director, Cynthia Welbourn, said: "Bearing in mind the considerable workload on both staff and students, these are very pleasing results with North Yorkshire once again exceeding the national averages."

Northallerton College had a 97 per cent pass rate with almost 47 per cent of pupils achieving A or B grades.

Principal Jennifer Slater said: "These splendid results are an excellent way of celebrating a year in which the college completes a £1m expansion."

In Ryedale, Malton School managed a 98.3 per cent pass rate, but none could improve on St Peter's School in York which scored 100 per cent, with almost half the students achieving grade As.

* A teenager who secured four A-level A grades has turned down a place at Oxford University in favour of Durham. Mark Richardson, 18, of Tyneside, will take up his place studying theology at Durham this autumn.

The Emmanuel College student, of Low Fell, Gateshead, said he felt the Durham University course was a better one than Oxford's.

The 18-year-old took maths with mechanics, English literature, physics and religious studies.