AN independent Quaker school for girls is celebrating its best ever A-level exam results - achieving an astonishing 100 per cent pass rate. Staff at the Mount School in York were cock-a-hoop as the results rolled in, and 71 per cent of the grades were either A or B. A total of 86 per cent of the girls gained at least one A grade. One girl scored five As, seven scored four As, and seven had 3 As.

Among the many successes were deputy head girl Tara Keatinge, and Claire MacDermott who overcame adversity to achieve top grades. Tara, with three As and a C, and Claire, with two As and two Bs, both discovered they were dyslexic in their early teens.

But neither have let that be a disadvantage and both are going to university - Claire to study medicine and Tara to pursue a career in sculpting.