SMART students across the North-East have been celebrating astounding academic success after coming to the end of two years of hard work.

Sighs of relief and screams of happiness rang out in colleges and sixth forms across the region yesterday as the latest crop of high-achievers collected their A-level results alongside family, friends and tutors.

Teenagers in County Durham, Darlington and North Yorkshire were particularly pleased to secure high pass rates, A*s and confirmation of university places as the first set of students to complete post-16 qualifications following major reforms.

Results for A-level students are now based on examinations completed at the end of two years of study rather than using modules throughout their time at college.

However, despite doubts over negative effects of the new linear system being introduced, the region’s sixth forms have continued to report strong pass rates and success stories for their students this year.

Among them was Yuriy Tumarkin, who recorded five A*s and three As in Russian, German, maths, further maths, history, French, physics and chemistry.

The 18-year-old, who goes to Durham Johnston School, is originally from Moscow, but moved to Durham seven years ago.

He is now going to study maths at Cambridge University where he will be joined by fellow academic, Samantha Pinches, from North Yorkshire.

The outstanding musician will go to the university’s Fitzwilliam College to read music after achieving A*, A, A grades from Teesside High School Sixth Form, in Eaglescliffe.

The 18-year-old is a choral soloist at Durham Cathedral and has performed in venues such as Birmingham’s Symphony Hall with the North East Regional Choir.

Last year, all students in England took new, more challenging exams in 13 subjects, with 11 more following in 2018.

However, early indications in County Durham suggest academic and vocational students studying A-levels, applied general and tech level, are above national averages.

In Darlington, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College recorded its highest ever overall pass rate at 99.7 per cent.

More than half of students secured a high grade rate of A*, A, B while 26 students attained four A*-A grades.

Principal, Tim Fisher, said: "Their success is testament to their hard work and ambition and to the support they receive from staff at the college.

"Each one of them can now look forward to a bright and exciting future and we wish them all the very best.”

Across the town, 55 per cent of students at Carmel College achieved A*, A or B grades.

Carmel College student, Adam Billany, who has cerebral palsy, is a talented sailor, who was fourth in the European Youth Paralympics, and he will now study sport and exercise science in Newcastle.

The college's principal, Mike Shorten, said: “We are really proud that so many of our students have achieved academic excellence while making a huge commitment to extra-curricular activities, such as competing at a national level in a range of sports.”