PUPILS at Barnard Castle School produced the best GCSE results in the school's history.

They set a new record in passing 89 per cent of all subjects at A to C* grade.

Even more impressive was the fact that, of all the subjects taken, a new high of 40 per cent were awarded either A* or A grades.

Top of the list came Alistair McCullough, of Ingleton, who scored ten straight A* grades, closely followed by Michael Johnson, of Hamsterley, with nine A*s and one A.

Other top performers were James Armstrong (Bishop Auckland), Caroline Bailes (Killerby), James Defty (Kirk Merrington), Chris Forster (Heighington), David Johnston (Crook), Iain McLaughlin-Symon (Lartington), Matthew Selby (Melsonby) and Nicky White (Barnard Castle).

Headmaster Michael Featherstone congratulated all those who worked so hard to achieve the good results.

He said: "We have had an excellent year at both A-level and GCSE and it is very heartening to see everyone's efforts being rewarded like this."