Eager to show they won’t be held back by regional disparities, disrupted learning during the pandemic, bullying, or even fleeing their homes due to war, pupils here flourished to bag a range of top grades.

Kaz Ali, from Darlington, doubted she’d even sit her GCSEs when she dropped out of school in Year 10 after being severely bullied. But the now-Polam Hall student turned things around earing the grades to land an aviation course place and follow her dream of becoming an air hostess.

Read more: LIVE GCSE Results Day 2023: North East students collect their results

She said: “I didn’t think I was going to pass anything, but I guess if you keep being determined you’ll get there in life.

Students at Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe collecting their results. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“I’m just proud of myself for even sitting my exams but passing them has really made my day. It just shows you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

Among those impressing were Ukrainian refugees who fled their war-torn homeland with little English.

Artur Zavhorodnii and Daniil Sycenko both came to Darlington to Hummersknott and Longfield academies respectively, defying the language barrier to excel in their exams.

Artur Zavhorodnii (Image: BARRON MEDIA)

Daniil Sycenko came to the UK straight into Year 10, with English as a second language. He achieved a Grade 9 in Maths and Grade 9 in Russian. Artur arrived last year and bagged a Grade 6 in Maths, with dreams to become a data scientist.

Some parents also went back to the classroom showing the school-leavers how it’s done. Mum Sheri Blakemore, 32, was beaming with pride on passing her GCSE Maths exam third time lucky with a Grade 4.

Teesside High School’s French wizz Lou received a Grade 8 in her language GCSE despite sitting it two years early, in Year 9.

Hummersknott Academy in Darlington’s top performing student Karla Chang’s eight Grade 9s and a Grade 8 left her “overwhelmed” as she follows her dreams of becoming a doctor.

Karla Chang hopes to become a doctor after shining as the top performing student at Hummersknot Academy in Darlington. (Image: Peter Barron)

There were great results for some of the region’s sporting stars of the future including motorsport racer Will Crewdson, of Dame Allan’s, who sat one exam hours after being discharged from hospital after a serious crash.

Bishop Auckland netballer Katie Brooks-Shea, from St John’s Catholic School, was bouncing with her results, achieved while balancing revision with hundreds of hours coaching and playing as England Netball North East Volunteer of the Year.

In North Yorkshire. brainbox and talented young singer Nia Peedell, 16, achieved eight Grade 9s, two Grade 8s and a 7 in further maths at Ripon Grammar School on top of her recent distinction in her Grade 8 London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art musical theatre.

An emotional day for these students collecting their results. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

There was a fall across the North East in the number of pupils being awarded the top grades of seven and above, down from 22 per cent last year to 17.6 per cdent this time around. Grades were, however, up on 2019, bucking a downwards trend seen with last week’s A-Level scores.

In London 28.4 per cent of marks were grade seven (equivalent to an A) or above, almost 11 percentage points higher than the rate in our region.

Head of social mobility charity the Sutton Trust said the grades continue to show regional disparities.

Sir Peter Lampl said: “Despite a noticeable improvement in the North East compared to 2019, it is still the region with the lowest proportion of top grades and London continues to outperform the rest of the country.

Read next:

• Girl who dropped out of school after awful bullying has GCSE dreams come true
• Young Darlington carer who had to drop out of school celebrates GCSE results
• Gap between North East and London for highest GCSE grades widens

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“While it is encouraging that the gap between state and independent schools has narrowed, a considerable difference in attainment remains.”

Addressing a widening gap in A-Level results between the North and South revealed last Thursday, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told The Northern Echo during an exclusive interview this week: “The fact exam results here are lower than pre-covid levels isn’t good enough.

“The government are crying about the success and their great results but for a lot of parents and a lot of kids growing up here they feel like they don’t have the opportunities.”