A COUNTY council has praised North Yorkshire’s A level students after they achieved high levels of success and maintained standards of previous years.

North Yorkshire County Councillor Arthur Baker said schools had recorded improvements in the average point score attained by pupils in their exam entries.

At Richmond School and Sixth Form, head teacher Ian Robertson said he was delighted with the improvement shown in the A Level results this year.

He said: “Despite a tightening up of standards nationally and a fall in the proportion of A Level awarded top grades, more students at the school gained three or more passes at the higher grades.”

Students at Thirsk School and Sixth Form have met offers to study a wide range of courses at institutions around the country including Oxford, Durham and Warwick.

Head teacher Stuart Mason said: “These results reflect the commitment of our students and our staff. “The vast majority have worked hard - we wish them well and look forward to hearing how they get on in the future.”

Northallerton College principal Mick Hill congratulated students Caroline Howarth and Sam Zwolinski, who both secured places at Oxford University.

Sam, 18, of Northallerton, who will be studying physics at St Anne’s College, Oxford, said: “After visiting Oxford I immediately liked the feel of the place and knew that it was somewhere that I would like to study.

“I’m delighted with my results and really glad that they will now enable me to go to my first choice university.”

Caroline, 18, of Northallerton, who will be studying earth science at St Anne’s College, Oxford said:“I always wanted to go to a top university and am so pleased that with hard work and help from my teachers I’ve been able to achieve the grades to get me there.”