PAUL Peeling described as "exhilarating" the feeling he got when he realised he'd achieved possibly the best A-level grades in the country.

The 18-year-old from Yarm School notched up six A-levels at grade A*. With top marks in maths, further maths, physics, design technology, electronics and general studies, Paul was unsurprisingly accepted on to a place at Clare's College, Cambridge, for a degree course in engineering.

Despite the outstanding results however, Paul reckons he could have easily blown it.

Speaking from his home in Pennypot Lane, Eaglescliffe, he says his A-levels were one big gamble.

"I class it as an experiment that actually came off. I'd never done electronics before this year, but I decided to do an AS and A-level in it during one year. Thankfully, I took to it.

"My parents are away on holiday but they phoned to congratulate me. They're proud but I think they expected me to do well."

Paul also finds time to play musical instruments - the violin, viola and the piano - as well as hockey.

* Paul's school was celebrating a 100 per cent A-level pass rate yesterday. All 77 sixth formers passed their A-levels with 13 per cent of them achieving places at elite universities Oxford or Cambridge.

A spokesman for the school said: "We've achieved some pretty outstanding results individually, but collectively they are easily the best ever.

"To achieve 100 per cent pass marks in grade E and above is incredible."