THERE was plenty of good news when it came to A Level results across south west Durham.

Teesdale School Sixth Form in Barnard Castle achieved a 97 per cent pass rate, with 28 per cent of all grades A or higher.

Wolsingham Sixth Form College in Weardale saw the number of pupils achieving two or more A* to B grades more than double, with Rohan-Kennedy Turner among the high achievers with 3 A*s secure a place studying archaeology in Edinburgh.

Barnard Castle School Sixth Form has reached a 99.6 per cent pass-rate and 58 per cent of all grades were at A*, A, or B grade.

Barnard Castle School student Iona Borer was one of 12 sixth formers to achieve straight A’s.

For Iona, 18, of Romaldkirk, her results will see her study forensics following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents.

“They are forensic scientists whereas I am interested in forensic psychology – why people actually commit crime,” said Iona, who will study philosophy and psychology at Edinburgh thanks to As and an A* in maths, religious studies and geography respectively.

At King James I Academy, in Bishop Auckland, all students who applied to university secured a place with good grades.

Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College in Spennymoor had some excellent results, exceeding its own predictions.

Of particular note were Megan Griffiths with 3 A*s and Bethany Littlefair who achieved 1050 UCAS points, 370 above national average.