STUDENTS and teachers are jubilant at the news that every school and college in the Bury borough has exceeded this year's national average for A level results.

Nationwide the average score for A to E passes was 89.8 per cent, but Bury surpassed this proving that it has a student population it can be proud of.

Manchester Jewish Grammar School in Prestwich has once again taken top place with a 100 per cent pass rate, even better than the 98.6 per cent it notched up last year.

Bury Grammar School (Girls) was close behind with 96.8 per cent, Bury Grammar School (Boys) achieved 95.6 per cent, Holy Cross College got 92 per cent and Bury College 90.5 per cent.

At Manchester Jewish Grammar School 17 pupils sat and passed 52 subjects and 56 per cent of them gained A and B grades.

At Bury Grammar School (Boys) the pass rate was 95.6 per cent, up on last year's total of 92.1 per cent.

Headteacher Mr Keith Richards said: "I am absolutely delighted. They have a been a good year and the results are as good as we have ever had. The high numbers of A and B grades, 60.1 per cent of all subject entries produced A or B grades, are terrific."

The top two students were Imran Ahmad of Higher Croft, Whitefield, and Tejas Shah of Langdale Drive, Bury, who both achieved five A grades.

Of the 73 candidates who made 296 subject entries at A level there were 99 A grades, 79 B grades, 49 C grades, 40 D grades and 16 E grades. Across the road at the Girls' school however, this year's students failed to match up to last year's record-breaking results.

The pass rate was 96.8 per cent, compared to 98.1 per cent in 2000. In 19 of the 25 subjects offered the pass rate was 100 per cent and the A/B grade rate was 58.3 per cent, 20 per cent above the national average.

Wenna Price (18) was the Bridge Road school's top performing student. She notched up four A-grades at A level and an A grade at AS level.

Wenna, who lives in Rochdale, said: "I knew I had done well because I got a call from the headteacher in the morning telling me, but I didn't know what grades I had got until I opened the envelope. I didn't think I had done this well, I can't believe it."

Wenna will leave for Keble College, Oxford, in October where she will study French and German .

Headteacher Miss Caroline Thompson said: "The girls have acquitted themselves well and can feel deservedly proud of their achievements; they have justified their parents investment in their Sixth Form education."

Bury College's pass rate was 90.5 per cent, four per cent up on last year.

A total of 106 students achieved 4 passes in A levels, 111 achieved 4 passes in A/AS levels, two students achieved 5 A level passes and six achieved 5 passes in A/AS levels.

Principal, Dr Helen Gilchrist, expressed her delight and said: "Our students and staff are to be congratulated on this year's excellent results which reflect the hard work and commitment of everyone involved."

Martin Corrigan (18) of Woodhall Avenue, Whitefield, could be forgiven for bursting into tears when he telephoned his mother to tell her his results. After all, he was the Market Street college's top student with A grades in English Language/Literature, History, Law and General Studies.

"I expected to do well, but not that well," said a stunned Martin who will now go on to study Law at Kings College in London.

The college was particularly pleased with the 100 per cent pass rate in a full range

of Art and Design A levels, Economics, Further Maths, Media Studies,

Physical Education and Urdu.

Last year Holy Cross College scored its highest ever pass rate of 91 per cent, and this year it has trumped itself with a 92 per cent total.

Incredibly four of its A level Computing students were placed in the top five individual students nationwide.

David Singleton of The Drive, Prestwich, Martin Doherty of Sunningdale Drive, Prestwich, Tabraze Malik of Heys Road, Prestwich and Michael Jackson of Beech Avenue, Whitefield, all proved themselves to among the best in the country.

And five students are Oxbridge bound. They are Stephen Greene of Ripon Hall Avenue, Ramsbottom, who will study Natural Sciences at Robinson College, Cambridge; Ben Hogg of Wings Grove, Heywood who will study Mathematics at Wadham College, Oxford; Louise Loster of Oakham Close, Bury, who will study Chemistry at Brasenose College, Oxford; Claire Mawdsley of Thornfield Road, Tottington who will study Medicine at Robinson College, Cambridge, and Martin Wilcock of Holcombe Lee, Holcombe Brook who will study Medicine at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

The six students who each gained five grade As are Salonika Acharya, Thomas Chambers, Stephen Greene, Ben Hogg, David Singleton and Martin Wilcock.

Mr Mike O'Hare, college principal said: "I am absolutely delighted with these results, they are a great credit to students and staff."