SCHOOLS across the region had every reason to be celebrating with their students yesterday as many scored well over the national A-level pass rate.

Headteachers in the North-East and North Yorkshire praised their hardworking students and staff as their schools' pass rates soared into the nineties, past the national average of 89.8 per cent.

Many noted record increases in this year's results with dozens speaking of dedicated students gaining five grade As each.

And despite AS Levels being branded "a shambles" by headteachers this year for overburdening students, results across the region showed them to be a considerable success.

At Polam Hall School, in Darlington, the A-level pass rate reached 97.5 per cent, with 96 per cent in the AS levels.

Helen Hamilton, Polam's headteacher, said: "The consistent high pass rates for girls is no surprise to me.

"We are a single-sex school and are aware that our students benefit greatly from this and will continue to be a credit to the single sex-schooling provided by the school."

At Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, also in Darlington, 1,630 students took A-levels, achieving a pass rate of 93 per cent - three per cent higher than last year.

Principal David Heaton said: "We are also very pleased with the high grades at A-level, with over 65 per cent of entries being at grades A to C.

"It means the majority of our students will be going to their first choice university."

The pass rate at Emmanuel College, in Gateshead, was 99 per cent.

Principal Nigel McQuoid said: "I am so pleased for the students. They have been able to work at a consistent pace and still enjoy the variety of experiences that a good sixth form has to offer."

Other pass rates around the region included:

English Martyrs Sixth Form, Hartlepool - 94.4 per cent; Carmel RC Technology College, Darlington - 93 per cent; Sunderland High School - 95 per cent; Hartlepool College of Further Education's Sixth Form Centre - 85 per cent; Derwentside College, based in Consett - 85.2 per cent