Karen Wilson and Francesca Craggs visit some of the region's top private schools to reveal the rewards of an ethos of individual care.
Kings's School Nine pupils at The King's School in Tynemouth celebrated achieving the top five marks in the country for GCSE English literature this year. AQA director general Michael Cresswell said: "There were 362,438 candidates entered for this examination, so this is an exceptional result." Among those nine were Simon Wallace, of Washington, who repeated this achievement in French, and Leonie James, who also gained a top five mark in physics. King's headteacher Philip Cantwell said: "We set high standards and our success at GCSE, A-level, and Oxbridge entrance continues to be excellent, but to see our pupils scoring the highest marks in the country is delightful. "We're also proud of all those pupils who have worked hard to achieve their personal targets." The school achieved its best ever result at GCSE with 96% of candidates achieving A*- C grades, while 50% of all grades were A* or A. A-level students did equally well this year, with a 99% pass rate. Of those, almost 60% of candidates gained A or B grades. Several King's students achieved four or more A grades, including Jamie Weaver, of Sunderland, who will now study medicine at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Helen Ritchie, of Sunderland, who will study English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge; Victoria Green, of Washington, who will study medicine at Nottingham University; and Anthony Roxburgh, of North Shields, who will now study mathematics at Durham University. Among many other A-level successes were: Jie Luo, of Jesmond, who achieved five A grades and is studying engineering at Cambridge; and Kellas Cameron, of Bedlington, who also achieved five A grades and turned down a place at Cambridge to study aeronautical engineering at the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in America. Mr Cantwell said: "We also see success in broader terms than raw league table results. "Our junior and senior pupils continue to achieve regional and national recognition in sport, music, and the arts. "Our ethos of personal attention creates productive relationships between pupils and staff. "We enjoy a broad intake and we motivate every one of our boys and girls, our young men and women, to aim high in everything they do." King's school is a fully co-educational independent day school with over 900 boys and girls aged four to 18 years.
 Mowden Hall School Pupils from the North-East were among those celebrating success at Mowden Hall School, as 13 leavers achieved scholarships and awards to some of the best-known UK independent schools. Mowden Hall, one of Northumberland's leading prep schools, has a long-standing record of outstanding achievement across sport, music and drama as well as to academic success. Mowden headmaster Philip Meadows said of the Year 8 results: "These achievements reflect the talent that our young people have - they deserve the recognition that these awards bring, and we wish them the very best as they move on to continue their education. "I would also like to acknowledge the dedication of the staff here at Mowden who have helped, supported and encouraged each one of them to achieve their very best." Out of a total of just 29 in their year, the 13 pupils have excelled to be awarded scholarships to schools which include Rugby, Ampleforth, Sedbergh and Gordonstoun. Mr Meadows took over as headmaster at Mowden two years ago and has been keen to build on the school's excellent reputation. "Here at Mowden we aim to offer an outstanding education with a totally flexible approach," he said. "Pupils attend daily, as boarders or as flexible boarders, so that families who are juggling the demands of work and children can be absolutely sure that their child is receiving the best possible standards of education and care. "This is reflected in the results we are celebrating today," he said.
 Longridge Towers School As the only independent school in Northumberland to offer weekly and full boarding, Longridge Towers school gives young people the opportunity to grow up in beautiful countryside close to the stunning North-East coastline. Situated in a large Victorian mansion set in 80 acres of grounds, not far from the A1, the Berwick-upon-Tweed school is still close enough to Newcastle and Edinburgh to enable pupils to benefit from the cultural attractions of the two cities. Originally a convent school run by the Ursuline sisters, it opened in 1983 as an independent school. In its 23 years it has grown in size and now has over 325 pupils aged from four to18 years. As well as providing boarding facilities it also offers provision for day pupils. This year, Longridge Towers is celebrating the success of its examination candidates. More than half the grades achieved by sixth formers at A-level were A or B. While the GCSE pass rate was more than 92% - with 100% of all candidates achieving more than five GCSE passes at grades A*-C. After a year as headteacher, Anthony Clemit has announced the school is to undergo a period of development. The initial focus will be on science and ICT and from September, a new head of science and ICT co-ordinator will guide this project. A new system of grade cards will monitor pupil progress, while in the junior department, French will be taught from reception onwards. Mr Clemit said: "Longridge is proud to feature highly in league tables of schools. Last year was no exception. Longridge's value-added score placed the school at the top of all schools in Northumberland and among the top 25% of schools nationally. "Yet value-added is more than a number. Parents who choose private education do so in the expectation that their children will receive a range of opportunities - academic, extra-curricular and personal. "Longridge has a broad curriculum aimed at developing the potential of the whole person." Many opportunities to nurture pupils' talents in sport, music, drama and other extra-curricular activities, including Duke of Edinburgh's award, are available. All of this takes place in the context of an ethos of care for each pupil as an individual. Pupils attend Longridge from many parts of Northumberland and a network of buses provide daily transport. Parents interested in sending their children to Longridge should call (01289) 307584 to make an appointment to meet the head.
 Westfield School It is a great achievement for any school to secure places for all of its leavers at their first or second choice of university. Once again, Westfield, the independent day school for girls in Gosforth, did this with 56% of A-level passes at grades A and B and students taking up places at universities ranging from Oxbridge, Edinburgh, Durham, Leeds and, of course, Newcastle. The key to this success is small classes. From the nursery to the sixth form, class sizes do not exceed 20 girls, ensuring that each girl really does achieve to the very best of her ability. The school is not, however, a narrow, academic hothouse where everything is sacrificed in the ruthless pursuit of a place at the top of the league tables. Westfield is totally committed to producing happy, self-confident, well balanced young women and educating the whole person through a broad and challenging curriculum and a large range of extra curricular activities. Music, art and drama all have high profiles at Westfield and the school has some outstanding sportswomen. Westfield is international in its outlook and has a huge programme of exchanges with schools all over the world. Westfield girls leave school with broad horizons, well prepared to face life in the new millennium. | 
Northumberland
