CARMEL College, already established as a provider of the highest quality of education, this year achieved a new record.

The class of 2004 have really surpassed themselves with some truly outstanding examination results.

The pass rate at A level remained very high indeed at 99 per cent whilst the proportion of students who gained the highest grades increased to 48 per cent.

The pass rate of 92 per cent for Vocational A levels was also terrific. Out of a total of 43 advanced subjects, a remarkable 28 reported pass rates of 100 per cent!

The lower sixth students also did exceptionally well. There were more than 1,900 grades A and B gained by Carmel students at AS level.

At a time when universities are looking to identify the best candidates by looking closely at AS results, this is impressive.

Carmel Principal Rob Peacock was absolutely delighted. "It is great to see that all the commitment of students and staff has paid off. These results are our best ever.

"Young people work very hard and they thoroughly deserve to be recognised for their achievements.

"Studying at Advanced level is challenging and demands an enormous amount of energy and effort. I am always impressed by the ability and dedication of students here at Carmel and the young men and women this year have excelled themselves.

"Carmel College students will now be progressing onto top universities across the country including Oxford and Cambridge. I know that they will continue to impress in their future careers and wish them all the best for the future.

"People often ask me why Carmel consistently produces such excellent results. I believe that the answer lies in the high quality of teaching and learning here and in the fact that we are continually encouraging students to achieve their maximum potential.

"This news is absolutely fantastic, not just for students and the College but also for the town of St Helens."

This year, 14 students from Carmel each achieved an amazing five grade A's at A Level - two of these students also gained an additional grade B in a sixth subject!

Many of these students came to Carmel from schools in St Helens and Knowsley: from De La Salle, Michael Case, Anthony Crawley, Matthew O'Reilly; from Rainford, Elizabeth Bate, Amy Fitzsimons; from Newton-le Willows, Kimberley Mawdsley; from Rainhill, Indrani Karpha; from Tower College, Louise Green; from St Edmund Arrowsmith in Whiston, John McCarthy and Kemi Okunade.

Michael Case, formerly of De La Salle, notched up five grade A's in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Psychology and General Studies. He was also awarded one of the top five grades in the country for Psychology out of 5,825 candidates who sat the exam this summer! He is now going to read Biochemistry at Imperial College, London.

l RIGHT; MICHAEL Case, who came to Carmel from De La Salle and achieved five grade A's and a top grade nationally for Psychology.

l STUDENTS from St Helens who achieved such amazing grades in their A Levels.