STUDENTS from Kirkbie Kendal School are continuing to go on to study at university despite rising tuition fees.

Figures compared between this year and 2011 differ by only one per cent as 89 per cent of year 13 pupils enter university straight after finding out their results or after a gap year, despite fees rising to £9,000 a year.

Staff and students at the school were pleased with their results despite being unable to top last year’s bumper figures. The highest A* and A grades were achieved by 20 per cent of students, while 73 per cent got A* to C grades. Overall 99 per cent of students got grades A*-E in the examined subjects.

Cumbrian young scientist of the year Ben Clarke is going to study biomedical science at Chester after passing the criteria for his course by passing design and technology, product design, maths and biology. His Young Scientist Award came about from school links with the STEM centre (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and a Gold Grest Award Project with Technical Fibre Products for his experimental work on aircraft wing technology.

Stephen Heap earned his place at Oxford studying maths and computer science with two A*s, two As and a C in maths, further maths, computing, physics and German respectively. He said: “I can’t wait to go to Oxford and I feel really good with the outcome of the results. I’m looking forward to celebrating these results!”

Jack Clark was also delighted with his four As in history, law, geography and English language which means he can now go on to study history at Royal Holloway University of London. “It was very good to open my results and see what I got so I’m chuffed to get into university.”

Meanwhile Emily Braithwaite plans to stay local as she goes to Lancaster University to study Spanish and international business.

Hazel Mossop got an A* in sociology and two Bs in psychology, and biology. She will go on to study Applied Psychology at Durham University. She said: “I was really nervous when I got up this morning but I am so happy now! I’ve done better than I expected so I’m really pleased.”

Headteacher Phil Hyman said: “The students have done very well and the huge majority have got into their universities of choice and the courses they wanted to do. “There are lots of happy people here today!”