PUPILS at Polam Hall School in Darlington have achieved record results in this year's GCSEs.

Rachel Turvy, 16, from Staddle Bridge, Northallerton, has been awarded A* grades in her 11 subjects.

A further eight Polam Hall pupils have each achieved 11 A or A* examination passes. These results mean 20 per cent of girls entered for the examinations at the school passed all their subjects at A or A*.

Nearly half of all candidates achieved an A or A* in all of the papers taken, and overall 92.1 per cent of all papers sat achieved A* to C passes.

Polam Hall headteacher Helen Hamilton said: "I am delighted at the girls' success in these increasingly important examinations.

"Achievement on this scale does not come without hard work, and the results reflect the commitment of both pupils and staff.

"At Polam Hall, pupils consistently achieve successful results at both GCSE and A-level and are a credit to the single- sex schooling provided by the school.