STUDENTS in Craven and the rest of North Yorkshire receiving their A-level results today have a lot to celebrate, according to early indications from education chiefs.

Although the full picture in the county is not yet known, there are schools showing improvements on last year plus impressive individual success stories.

North Yorkshire is a consistently high-performing authority for A-level success. Although there have been major reforms to the structure of A-level courses this year, early indications are that schools and students have risen to the challenge.

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Schools, said: “Congratulations to all the young people on their results this morning. Their hard work and achievements place them in a good position to take up the higher education and training places that they choose.

“They can be confident they have a wide range of options and have been well prepared for the next step in their lives. From the early indications, the results are a tribute to the hard work of students, the support of families, the dedication of school staff and the quality of teaching in North Yorkshire.’’

Schools in the county also have strong systems of support in place to assist students who may have missed out on their first choices to gain alternative places through the university clearing system, or to help them to look for alternative routes into employment, training or apprenticeships.

Cllr Mulligan said: “Large numbers of university places are still available and students can still get places even if they didn’t reach their grades. In addition, students who have performed better than expected are helped to apply for more prestigious courses and institutions.”