STUDENTS at the Lakes School at Troutbeck Bridge have celebrated another brilliant year of results with a 99.9% pass rate, and 80% achieving A* to C grades.

Meryl Varty, 18, had particular reason to celebrate as she scooped two A*s and an A in Geography, Biology and Art. She will now study Zoology at Sheffield University, with hopes of finding work in the conservation field.

She said: “I am so excited. I just went over to my mum and she started crying.

“I really want to work with animals and have been volunteering with the RSPB.”

Fellow student Harry Frith has an interesting career ahead as he joins Newcastle University to study Naval Architecture.

The 18-year-old achieved an A, B and two Cs in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Art.

He said he was delighted with his results and is looking forward to moving across to Newcastle.

“I will be studying the design of anything that floats or is fixed to the sea bed; anything from oil tankers and wind farms to small boats.

“Eventually I would like to work for a boat company engineering small crafts.

“I am also hoping to do a year abroad as Newcastle has a sister campus in Singapore.”

Mum Christine stood proudly by, saying: “I am more than proud of him, I am just bursting.

“This is the start of a fantastic journey for him.”

Acting head teacher Michael Gallop said: “It is a fantastic set of results, and does not include vocational qualifications which are stronger.

“It is all about celebrating the individuals today and we are absolutely delighted with the results and what our students have achieved.

“Our job now is to help those who may need to think again about what they can do, and what is right for them, even if they haven’t achieved the grades they were hoping for.

“That is not necessarily university, but whatever is the right route for them.”