THE national trend for girls to beat boys in their 'A' level results was not the case among the high achievers at Leyland's Runshaw College.

Among those coming top of the class was David Sloan, 18, of Southport Road, Eccleston.

David, a former pupil of St Michael's High School, Chorley, gained five 'A' levels , with grade As in maths, further maths, physics and general studies, and a B in French. Now he is preparing to go to Oxford University to study maths.

David said: "My dad was here when I got my results. I think he was more nervous than I was."

Overall, the college is celebrating its highest pass rate ever of 97.8 per cent.

College spokesman Jim Smith said: "This year we have more students getting higher grades than ever before and we have 32 subjects where the pass rate was 100 per cent."

He put the students' success down to 'target setting' - a system where students are regularly monitored to make sure they don't slip from expected grades, based on past record.

Jim said: "If a student fails to make the grade on occasions it is noted and addressed immediately."

Former Parklands High pupil Lauren Ashcroft, 18, of Parr Lane, Eccleston, certainly made the grade with four grade As.

She said: "I was really relieved when I got my results. I am going to Oxford to do French and German. Eventually I would like to work abroad, maybe in Germany. I went there earlier this year on the college exchange."

Fellow pupil Megan Hallam, 18, of Kirkby Avenue, Clayton-le-Woods, also gained four 'A' levels -- two grade As in biology and PE, and two Bs in chemistry and maths.

She said: "I'm going to Durham University to study biochemestry. I would like to be a forensic scientist."

Results day was marred, though, for some pupils who had to wait until Friday to gain the final results of history exams. One examining board had failed to mark 20 per cent of the course so students opened their results sheet to find a lower result in history than expected.

However, Mr Smith, whose own daughter was among those left hanging on, said the delay was unlikely to have prevented any pupils taking up places.

He said: "Where there was any doubt that pupils might not have made the grade for their preferred course, they were advised to go through clearing or to accept their second choice straight away."

The results came Friday morning and Miss Smith gained a place at Lancaster University.