STUDENTS at St Mary's High are celebrating exam success.

Mr Alan Bell, headteacher at the Astley school, said: "Our policy is to provide every opportunity for students to study at AS and A level and our entry policy for advanced level courses is significantly lower than the norm.

"This is even more reason for our school to be justly proud of the achievements at AS and A level and points to the high level of teaching and dedication of staff."

More than 90 per cent of A-Level students gained passes and more than half achieved grades of A-C.

Mr Bell said: "The results are exceptionally good. We have very high value added at this level with a number of students with straight As but we also celebrate the achievements of those students who have worked with their teachers to gain grades which are a good reflection of their overall ability regardless of the absolute grade.

"At vocational A level we had 14 candidates and the results are exceptional with a 100 per cent pass rate with 50% of them gaining distinctions."

He said: "The AS results are also exceptionally good -- our pass rate is 88.5 per cent compared to 86 per cent nationally.

"There were genuine difficulties for staff and students this year with the introduction of this new examination system.

"I am delighted for the students and their parents who can rightly be proud and celebrate success. We work in partnership with families and I am sure that they will join with me in also congratulating all of the teaching staff for the high quality of teaching and genuine concern for welfare of individuals."