A total of 26 students achieved a clean sweep of grades awarded at A* or A.

Pupils sat exams for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.

Ponteland High School headteacher Stefan McElwee said: "We are delighted with the results achieved by our Year 13 students this year. We must remember that this cohort have not sat public examinations before as their GCSE exams were cancelled at short notice in March 2020. It is especially pleasing to see the students have performed so well across all subjects despite their limited exposure to formal exams.

"I am particularly proud of the resilience and positive outlook they have maintained through the many pressures and disruptions caused by the pandemic. They have continued to focus hard on their studies and have more than risen to the challenges presented. Today is a day for them to celebrate fantastic results and to look forward to further successes in their next destinations, whether that be higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

"Our teachers have worked tirelessly to minimise the impact on students and ensure they have been well supported academically and emotionally. They too can celebrate the successes of their students and feel pride in how well they continue to serve all the students in our school. 

"I hope our Year 13 students will look back on their time with us fondly. They are exceptional, inspiring and talented young people who deserve every success. I couldn’t be prouder of them and I look forward to hearing about their further achievements in the future.”

Notable performances include:

Rachael Foster: 4xA*  English Language, Maths, Further Maths & Psychology

Nicola Ho: 4xA*  Fine Art, Maths, Further Maths & Physics

Nicholas Dobson: 3xA*  Maths, Further Maths, Physics; 1xA Economics

Samuel Armstrong: 3xA*  Maths, Further Maths and Physics

Chloe Beechinor-Collins: 3xA*  English Language, French & German

Sebastian Sloan: 3xA*  Maths, Further Maths & Physics

Ben Wooley: 3xA*  English Language, Media & Film & Religious Studies

Harvey Johnson: 2xA*  Economics, Maths; 2xA - Further Maths & Physics

Jemma Tilbury: 2xA*  Maths, Further Maths; 2xA - Chemistry & Physics

Tom Beales: 2xA*  Economics, Geography; 1xA Maths

Hannah Eggleston: 2xA*  English Literature, History; 1xA Chemistry

Niamh Steadman: 2xA*  Biology, Economics; 1xA Chemistry

George Storey: 2xA*  Maths, Physics; 1xA Economics

Jack Stuart: 2xA*  Biology, History; 1xA Maths                

Ben Dawson: 2xA*  Maths, Further Maths; 1xA Physics; 1xB Chemistry

Tily Mathieson: 1xA*  Biology; 2xA - Maths & Physics

James Burn: 1xA*  Biology; 2xA - Chemistry & Economics

Anna Wilson McDonald: 1xA*  Biology; 2xA - Maths & Chemistry

Ben Swann-Tanton: 1xA*  Geography; 2xA - Biology & Economics

Jake Clayton: 3xA  Business Studies, Economics & History

Lucy Carmichael: 3xA   Business Studies, Economics & Psychology

Max Fawcus: 3xA   Maths, German & Physics

Marcus Jeffery: 3xA  Biology, Business Studies & Economics

Amber Ruddick: 3xA  Biology, Chemistry & Maths

Kathija Sharif: 2 Distinction *, Cambridge Technicals in Business and ICT