STUDENTS began arriving at South Craven School for their results shortly after 8am last Thursday. (August 17)

Staff were on hand offering the school's usual post-result support to any student needing to make decisions on their future.

Glusburn student Sylvie Cook said she was delighted to have gained three As in A-level psychology, English literature and English language.

She had needed two As and a B to get into King's College London to study global health and social medicine.

"I feel really proud," she said. "I couldn't afford to slip up and it was a lot of hard work."

Her mother, Debra, said: "She was revising constantly and her room was full of study lists and flash cards. She deserves this."

Abigail Horner, from Silsden, gained an A in chemistry and A stars for maths and biology.

"I feel over the moon," she said. "I wasn't expecting this at all and it's nice that all the work I did has paid off. It's been worth it."

She will be going to Leeds University to study biological sciences.

Christopher White, from Flasby, joined South Craven School in year 12.

He gained three starred distinctions for BTECs in ICT, music and engineering.

"There was ongoing assessment so it hasn't come as a big shock, but I'm really happy," he said.

"I'm going to Leeds Beckett University to do audio engineering."

Christopher is a musician who plays guitar, piano and bass and also sings. And he had to fit in his studies alongside competing in the martial art aikido.

Mateusz Wasielewski also gained three starred BTEC distinctions. He had taken BTECs in science, ICT and business.

"I put the effort in throughout the year and I got what I wanted," he said. "I was aiming for starred distinctions from day one."

He will be going to Huddersfield University to study computing.

Two South Craven students have won places at Cambridge University this year.

Rachael Robinson, from Silsden, will appropriately being going to Robinson College Cambridge, while Phoebe Robinson, from Cowling, is going to King's College.

Rachael, who got three A stars in chemistry, biology and maths, said: "I feel great. I was hoping I'd do well but didn't know what to expect.

"Biology was the most difficult subject, but I felt the workload was just about right.

"I'm going to study natural sciences. I'd like to maybe go into scientific research."

Phoebe, who got an A in English literature and A stars in history and politics, is going to study law at Cambridge.

But she is also interested in possibly pursuing a future career in journalism. She has her own news and events show at the Cowling-based Drystone Radio station.

She said: "I was quite nervous after my exams. You never really know how you've done and it was an anxious wait over the summer.

"In one of my English literature exams there was a question about 'morality' but I accidentally wrote an answer on 'mortality' instead!"

South Craven head teacher Dr Andrew Cummings pointed out that Phoebe had failed her 11 plus exams, while Rachael had been eligible to go to a grammar school but opted for South Craven instead.

He said the fact that both have made it to Cambridge raised serious questions about the effectiveness of a system which divides pupils at the age of 11.