4 THE TEESDALE MERCURY Wednesday, 27th August, Wednesc All the GCSE r e s u l t s

wU. Best-ever year at r

Staindrop \ Comprehensive School Teesdale School T HIS] celeb A HIGH-achieving pupil at businl T eesd ale School gained an amazing 11 A grades in his ABOVE: From left - Laura Hazelton, William Wilkinson, to be a fomi GCSE results on Thursday, Perkins, Rhys Adams, Michelle Stobart and Peter Barker. by the Wats Arthur Carrington, from The new Mickleton, notched up 10A*s and Kimberl and one A. He said he was on the Ion “very pleased” with the results Top form show don. The ft Staindrop School and is planning to continue his and unique studies at A Level. Four other pupils at the that you car school also celebrated excep­ from the girls temporary si tional results. Amy Docherty, while obser breaks all records IT has been another successful from Copley, achieved eight f o r m . beauty outsic A*s and three As. James year at Barnard Castle School Headmaster, A*-C passes 13% up on previous record with 88% of all pupils scoring The bar I Roberts, from B arnard F e a t h e r s t o n e , w as delighted refitted with C astle, achieved six A*s, three A*-C passes in at least five sub­ t h e a c h ie v e m e n ts of the enfe The full list of results are as jects in this year’s GCSEs. y e a r . you can enjo STAINDRO P C om prehe- As, one B and one C. of coffees th nsive had a record breaking follows: Melissa Anderson, 11; Hannah Stephenson, from The girls were the top per­ “R esults like these are year this year as 58.7% of Vicky Andrews, 7; Simon W oodland, achieved five A*s, formers in the school witn a rew ard for a great deal offe Farm is home pupils achieved a grade C or Armstrong, 9; Matthew Bailey- five As and one B. Julie 92% A*-C pass rate. w o r k a ll ro u n d ,” he said H Costa Coffee above in five or more GCSE Withers, 9; Mandy Baker, 11; Wallace, from E ggleston , Laura Hazelton from proportion of pupils going a| fee menu sei subjects. D aniel B am forth, 11; C hris Startforth received some of t h e s i x t h fo rm looks set to withhomemj achieved three A*s, five As and the best grades with nine A*s This smashed the school’s Bell, 8; Gemma Bell, 4; three Bs. She also gained one of h ig h e r th an ever and the moi Or if you’c previous record by more than Rachael Bell, 10; David Best, and one A grade. She intends to i s r i g h t l y v e ry buoyant - tb the top five marks in the coun­ stay on at the school sixth form non room m 13%. 7; Richard Bowden, 11; Stuart try, out of 70,014 candidates, h av e done very well indeed.' “We’re very pleased, — this is Brand, 5; Claire Briggs, 10; to study French, Spanish, The full list of results isi terrace for i for Technology. Maths and Physics. follows: truly a new record,” said a P e ter B right, 11; Jessica A special needs pupil at the summer ever delighted Brian Kinnair, the Brown, 9; Ashley Brydon, 10; The Barker family of R Adams 10 (10); R Atkinson rant has a fre school, Kevin Cooper, from Bishopton have been celebrat­ (5); D Austin 10 (10); I headteacher. M atthew Budge, 11; Kevin B ow es, also scored highly, with a new “It used to be 45%, this is a Burke, 8; Peter Burt, 8; Guy ing a successful couple of Bainbridge 10 (10) P Barkerl meals from achieving two As, two Bs and weeks. Their son, Peter, also (10); V barwood 10 (10); 1 big jump. Credit is due to the Chamberlain, 5; Julia Clague, three Cs. He said that he plans team of che pupils, and also to the staff 10; Luke Deacon, 8; Mary received nine A*s and one A. B atty 9 (5); J Brown 9 (i\ I to concentrate on agricultural His success comes on the heels C hallis 10 (10); E Chrisp II served from T and support staff who have Deacon, 10; Marc Douglas, 11; studies and work on the family of his elder sister, Sally, who and evening helped them achieve this. Andrew Downing, 11; Michael (10); J Clarey 10 (5); 1 farm. received A grades in four A lev­ Cuthbertson 10 (10); P Data able every ni{ “I’m also very pleased that Dowson, 11; Matthew Ebdon, Headteacher Paul Harrison els and one A/S level last week. 10 (10); L Dobson 10 (10); I The Carvei not one of our pupils will leave 8; Carolyn Evans, 11; Daniel was delighted with the results. Peter intends to stay on into Dobson 10 (10); L Eaglenl school without an examination Famell, 9; Edward Fisher, 11; “This is our best ever year,” he lar as ever, cl the sixth form and study sci­ (10); C Ellison 10 (10); I all you can, j certificate. This is the third A m anda Ford, 11; Ben said. “It was made all the more ences and Maths. “My parents Featherstone 9 (9); j year running we’ve achieved Franklin, 8; Charlotte satisfying as in some cases staff were very happy!” he said. Fieldhouse 10 (10); A Gray! plate you wo this and it’s quite unusual. Freeman, 11; Laura Freeman, and students have been work­ Laura Perkins, of Bishop (8); S Gunning 10 (10); J S yourself to as “Another encouraging figure 10; Dominic Garside, 13; ing in very difficult conditions Auckland, received eight As 10 (10); L Hazelton 10(10)1 as you want. is that 98% achieved five or Emma Graham, 10; Julie because of the refurbishment and two A*s. She intends to H eyhurst 10 (8); T Honey* Consisting more A* to G grades. I’m very Hartley, 9; Daniel Hawksby, 9; work that is taking place in the study Ancient History, English 10 (10); K Johnson 9 (% II including a fi pleased with the excellent Michael Hodgson, 10; Victoria school. The results have shown Literature, Biology and Johnson 9 (9); L Kelton9(M choice, as we resu lts.” Homer, 11; Richard Houghton, a significant improvement on Spanish. Kwok 8 (8); N Laveiy 9 M Sophie Stuttard from 11; Ashley Hubery, 10; D arren last year, with the top grades William Wilkinson, from Luk 7 (6); MLumblOM day, they ar Staindrop was one pupil who Hughes, 6; Leia Jackson, 10; up by 7% to 58.7%. Cleasby, got a clean sweep of M ackay 8 (6); I McCulloch I selection of did particularly well. She Glen Jardine, 10; Hayley “The other statistic pub­ PICTURED: Special needs pupil Kevin Cooper, from Bowes, six A*s and four As. “It wasn’t (10); R McKenzie 10 (lb bles, potato achieved two A*, seven As, Jobling, 11; Sam Jobling, 11; lished by the Government is scored highly, achieving 2A, 2B and 3C. what I expected,” he said. “I Moore 9 (8); W Neville 10 ti and a C. She intends to go to Melvyn Johnson, 10; James the number of students gaining Berresford; Edmund Betton; Rachel Nixon; Matthew expected to do slightly worse.” Y-C Pak 7 (6); S Penmanl Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form Kidd, 13; Chris Land, 11; five or more passes overall. Liam Birkett; Graham Bland; Northey; Kayleigh O'Keeffe; He intends to study sciences L Perkins 10 (10); K Rand College. D arren Longstaff, 10; G areth This was 96.1% for us this year. Kelly Blissett; Joshua Bradley; Christopher Peart; Rupert and Maths in the sixth form. (10); N Robson 10 (10); AS* Other Staindrop students Lord, 13; Je n n y Lynas, 10; It was slightly down on previ­ Thomas Breedon; Sadie Briggs; Philbrick; Rebecca Pickworth; Rhys Adams, from Hurworth, 10 (10); D Sixsmith 10 ( f l who achieved high grades H elen M angles, 11; C hris ous years as we had a small Cheryl Brough; Philip Brown; Kevin Proffitt; Matthew Proud; got seven As and three A*s. He Sm ith 10 (10); M Stobaip were: Christopher Land who Martin, 6; Justin Mays, 11; number of students being edu­ Sarah Clare; Tom Cordey; Martin Race; Emma Roberts; will stay on into the sixth form (10); C Straker 8 (6); Y-LTbb got one A*, seven As, two Bs Anthony McCutcheon, 11; cated on an alternative pro­ Adam Comer; Emily Cowley; Helen Russell; Clare Settle; to study English Language, (5); E Targett 10 (10); C 'Em and one C; David Tallentire Chris McKeague, 11; William gramme run by the authority. If Marc Davis; Rebecca Day- Laura Smiles; Sarah Smith; English Literature, Ancient 10 (9); T Towner 10 ((§ who was awarded five As and McNab, 9; Carl Metcalfe, 6; those students are excluded Preston; Sophie Dedman; Robert Spooner; Jessica History and History. “I proba­ Walker 10 (10); T Walshawl six Bs and Melissa Anderson Lucy M etcalfe, 11; Nicola from the statistics our figures Linda Dickinson; Penny Tallentire; Amy Tarn; Jodie bly did a bit better than I (10); L Watts 9 (9); D White! who got three As, one B and Morris, 11; Stephen Morris, 4; go up to 60.6% for the top Docherty; Colin Dodgson; Tatchley; Zoe Taylor; James thought!” he said. (10); W Wilkinson 10 (1(§ seven Cs. Natalie O’Sullivan, 11; Simone grades and 99.3% for more than Caroline Eccles; Daniel Teasdale; Shaun Teasdale; Michelle Stobart, from Zakharov 11(10); N Zisderl Pictured above are some Owen, 11; Scott P arkin, 9; five overall passes.” Emmerson; Laura Everitt; Rebecca Teward; James Darlington, received 10 A* and (10). H more of Staindrop’s record Steph Parry, 10; Claire Matthew Fenwick; Amy Fisher; Thomas; Wayne Thwaites; A grades. She will study • Figure in brackets indiote reaking students. They are Priestley, 10; A risara Quinn, The number of GCSE passes Mark Fletcher; James Jason Tobbell; Andrew English Language, Spanish, the number of subjects pa* rom left): Sophie Stuttard; 10; Hollie Reid, 11; Sula were: Freeman; Diane Gargate; Tweddall; Rebecca Walton; History and Ethics in the sixth at grades A*-C xisara Quinn, from In gleton, Richardson, 11; Emma Robson, 10 - Clare Bayles; Katy Stephanie Gowland; Sylvia Samuel Warn; Amanda who is going to Queen 11; Nicola Robson 11; Stacey Bestford; Arthur Carrington; Grey; Samantha Hall; Sharron Watson; Henry Westmacott; Elizabeth Sixth Form College; Sedgwick, 10; Deborah Susan Coatsworth; Zoe Harrison; Dean Hempsall; Andrew Wilson; Patrick Emma Graham, from Shackleton, 10; Danielle Coatsworth; Jessica Cole; Sophie Henderson; Mark Wilson; Rebecca Woodhead. THE Jersey G a in fo rd , who is going to Simpson, 12; Em m a Slee, 10; Suzannah Crowe; Amy Herbert; Rebecca Hercock; 8 — Lucy Atkinson; Peter High five for Diana Queen Elizabeth; Charlotte Kelly Sowerby, 10; Clare Docherty; Amanda Hepworth; Matthew Houghton; Robert Atkinson; Richard Barratt; Freeman, from Gainford, who Stephenson, 11; M ark Anneliese Hunt; Kendra Hudson; Daniel Hughes; Kevin Cooper; Nicky Davidson; is going to begin a modem Stephenson, 11; Gary Stewart, McDonald; Joanne Meads; Rebecca Hughes; Laura Amy Gumsley; John Hodgson; apprenticeship; Steph Parry, 12; Richard Storr, 11; Sophie James Murdoch; Jordan Hunter; Rachael Hunter; Dean Nigel Hope; Steven Hughes; from Startforth, who is going S tu ttard , 10; Lee Sum pton, 8; Nutter; James Roberts; Jackson; Laura Johnson; Glen Ideson; David Simpson; to Queen Elizabeth; Laura Craig Tait, 8; David Tallentire, Thomas Robinson; Jacqueline Sheonagh Jones; Shalona Helen Towler; Mandy Walker; Freeman, from Gainford, who 11; M ark Taube, 13; M ark Scott; Emma Sellwood; Kaneen; Todd Kellett; Mandy Alan Wilby; Katie Wood. is beginning a modem appren­ Thornton, 8; Chloe Thwaites, Margaret Simpson; Darren Kelly; Michelle Kelly; Kelly 7 — Joe Chapman; Tom ticeship; Donna Westgarth, 10; Paul Todd, 6; Carlie Van Small; Jonathan Stamp; Kettlewell; Martin Kneller; Davidson; Mary Hunt; Graham from E th erley , who is going to Dijk, 9; Shauna Van Dijk, 2; Hannah Stephenson; Sarah Joanne Lamb; Amanda Morris; Lauren Stockton; Bishop Auckland College; Sam Scott Varley, 13; Trudy Teasdale; Rebecca Turner; Latcham; Richard Levett; Leanne Thomas. Jobling, from Even wood, who W aistell, 9; Vicky Walker, 5; Andrew Waddell; Julie Wallace; Jenny Marshall; Katie 6 - Liam Jones. is going to Bishop Auckland Charlotte Walton, 7; Kathryn Helen Walton; Fiona Marshall; Helen Maude; Kevin 3 - Melissa Parker. Williams. College; Claire Briggs, from W atson, 11; Amy Webster, 8; Maughan; Matthew Moore; In addition, most students Etherley, who is going to 9 - Leo Applegarth;Nicola Anthony Morton; Craig gained a half GCSE in RE. F ra se r W elsh, 11; D onna Bainbridge; Sarah Bell; Sarah Murray; Jayne Mylchreest; Queen Elizabeth and Matthew W estgarth, 10; Glen Wheeler, Bailey-Withers, from Gainford, 10; William Wood, 10; Anna who is joining the army. Young, 11.

Voice o f faith : D avid B lakely A VISITORS’ survey was car­ lives of people who, in many ried out recently in one of our cases, were not much older cathedrals to find out why peo­ than ourselves. Likewise, many ple visited the historic building, people, including myself, are and what their visit meant to interested in their family histo­ them, especially as most did not ry, and spend much time in take part in the services. researching their ancestors - One of the findings was that who they were, where they a significant number of visitors lived, what they did for a living, spoke about the past, but in and so on. ABOVE: Diana Lambourne from Newbiggin. “I didn’t have 01 very few cases did they mention In most of our cathedrals and previous experience of textiles...! just went ahead and did it” the future. churches there are memorials A MATURE student from and the subject seemed inter I do not find this particularly to past worshippers, but the N ew biggin achieved one of the esting. I just went ahead anc surprising: most of us are much display of memorials is not the top five A Level design grades did it. more interested in past events main function of these build­ in the country last week. “I don’t think my age was * than in guessing what the ings. As tourists in places of Fifty-nine year-old Diana barrier. Although I think it s future may hold in store for us, worship, we see the outward Lambourne took Art and harder to learn new thintf when you are older, if you app symbols of the faith, but as wor­ Design Textiles at Bishop although of course we would be Auckland College this Summer. yourself then you can do it foolish if we were to make no shippers, whether as visitors or As part of the course, she Besides, it is not all down to « provision for our own future as regular members of the con­ made a number of textiles individual. I think that tlx and that of our families. gregation, we look for some­ using a variety of materials and teachers deserve some of S Earlier this year I was speak­ thing deeper, something even dyes. She fashioned one into an praise.” ing to someone who writes obit­ more lasting than stone tablets. elaborate kimono, complete Sheila Smithson, Diana'* uaries for an American newspa­ The primary purpose of these with an oriental design. teacher, said: “This is an ort per, and he told me that one of buildings, and the purpose for Although she was confident standing achievement, lb 1 our British national newspa­ which they were built, is to of doing well, Diana says she one of the top five in the coufr pers had made a decision some enable each generation to con­ had no idea that she would be try is incredible news. Diana* one of the best in the country. “I extremely talented and wortoi years ago to concentrate on tinue to worship the God who was there in the past, is there am a retired physiotherapy really hard. Her portfolio their obituary section, because teacher so I didn’t have any tremendous and she reafc many readers turned to the today, and will be there in the previous experience of making deserves the accolade.” obituaries before reading any­ future. textiles,” she said. “I visited In addition to her Art 11 thing else. DAVID BLAKELY the college once and noticed Design Textiles A Level, Diana There is something fascinat­ Lay Reader at Barnard Castle PICTURED: Teesdale School’s high achievers. From left, Hannah Stephenson, Arthur Carrington, some of the textile designs on achieved a grade B in AS Level ing about reading about the Parish Church. Julie Wallace and Amy Docherty. display. They appealed to me French.