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Students in Hebburn are ending a long, nervous summer wait for exam results by opening those much-anticipated envelopes on A-Level Results Day today.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers nationwide have found out whether they have made their university offers and looking forward to their new beginnings.

Across the UK, 2022 has seen a fall in top grades awarded by exam boards - around 60,000 fewer A and A* grades have been given out.

The number of A and A*s fell to 36.4% from a record 44.8% in 2021 - although the number is still higher than the 25.5% in 2019.

Education Secretary James Cleverley acknowledged that students have had a "really tough time" over recent years and congratulated them on their results.

At St. Joseph's Catholic Academy in Hebburn, students celebrated a 100% pass rate.

Head Boy Charles Lewis and Head Girl Hallie Knox are off to new beginnings

Carly Curry, Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form at St. Joseph's Catholic Academy said: “St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, celebrates a 100% pass rate for their year 13 students.

"Almost 30% were at grade A or higher and 85% were at grade C or above.

"We are very proud of all of our students, whose hard work, determination and commitment has been recognised in these results. Of course, these are the first formal external examinations this year group have sat and they have truly showcased their abilities."

Lucy Smith secured three A* grades and is off to the University of Liverpool

One of the top performances came from Lucy Smith, whose three A* grades will see her study English at the University of Liverpool.

Other students with straight A* grades are Darcey Wilkinson, who will study Nursing at Northumbria University, Emily Martin who will study Politics at Durham University and Poppy Docherty who will study Chemistry at Newcastle University.

St. Joseph's Catholic Academy_James Mole and Emily Martin will both being studying politics at Northumbria University and Durham University respectively

Some students are choosing different routes for their next steps, moving into apprenticeship roles.

Tom Archibald is one of those and will be taking an apprenticeship as a recruitment and finance consultant after achieving two distinction stars and a grade B in A-level Law. Ben Pinnick is another, who will take an apprenticeship at Nissan.

Hebburn students celebrate A-Level results with many heading to top universities and apprenticeships