NEARLY 20 per cent of all grades at Princess Helena College were A* and As.

The girls’ college, based in Preston, saw a 98% pass rate, with nearly 80 per cent of grades awarded an A*-C.

Headteacher Jo-Anne Duncan said: “We are delighted to see another strong set of grades, which are the result of the hard work and dedication of our girls and staff.

“This year we have girls going off to study a diverse range of subjects including mathematics, psychology, economics and politics, as well as our first student ever to go to study agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University.

“Our strength in the arts and music continues, with one pupil going on to the Royal Northern College of Music, with a scholarship, and others off to top art colleges.”