THERE were mile-high smiles all round at Longfield Academy as top-flight students celebrated their best ever bumper crop of GCSE results.
Among the many stories of success was a group of highly motivated pupils who did a sky-dive in memory of their former teacher Nigel Nattress who died from motor neuron disease.
The students, including Ollie Roberts, David Templeton and Callum Kemp raised over £2,000 for the motor neurone disease charity.
Oliver, 16, from Darlington, said the skydive in memory of Mr Nattress had been a proud moment in his school career.
He said: “Mr Nattress was a great teacher; he taught me for three years and he was really funny. About eight of us took part in the skydive which was pretty nerve wracking but we really enjoyed it.”
Ollie achieved an impressive 6As, 1 A*, B and a C and plans to do A-levels in September.
His friend David Templeton, 16, from Darlington, who also took part in the skydive, achieved 7As, 5Bs and a C, and said Mr Nattress would have been pleased with the results.
The students jumped over 10,000 feet during the dive at Teesside Airport and were accompanied by RE teacher Stuart Rawle.
He said: “The students were very organised with the dive and did the majority of the work themselves. They did very well and we are all very proud of them.”
A record 66 per cent of all students achieved 5As including English and Maths which is the highest result ever achieved by the Academy. Other highlights were English, with an 81 per cent A* - C pass rate, Maths with 79% and RE with 94%.
Deputy head teacher Sara Davidson said the excellent GCSE results came on top of the school being awarded a Gold Investors in People award for the second time running.
“I am extremely proud of all of students and staff today. We have had the best set of GCSE results ever and only found out this week that we have the Gold Investors in People award. These results show great determination and hard work from across the board – students, staff and parents.”