CHEERS of joy, relief and surprise were heard at Cambridgeshire s schools on Thursday as anxious pupils tore open their A-level results. With the pass rate at a record 96.6 per cent across the UK many students were celebrating after achieving the results

CHEERS of joy, relief and surprise were heard at Cambridgeshire's schools on Thursday as anxious pupils tore open their A-level results.

With the pass rate at a record 96.6 per cent across the UK many students were celebrating after achieving the results they needed to secure a place at university.

One of those students was Kimbolton School pupil Jonny Dack, who achieved four A grades despite being off school for most of the Easter and summer term after breaking his back in a skiing accident in February.

Jonny spent two months in a German hospital where he had two operations and had to learn to walk again.

He also missed his mock exams, but still managed As in politics, history, English language and literature and general studies.

Jonny, who lives in Constable Leys in Kimbolton, said: "I went on holiday with my friend to Germany and we decided to spend the first day skiing. I am quite a good skier so I guess I must have been showing off when my accident happened."

After his first operation Jonny was told he would never walk again.

"I was really scared as I didn't know if I would be able to walk again but I have re-learnt. At that time my exams were the furthest things from my mind. I just wanted to get better."

Jonny couldn't go back to school straight after his operation as he couldn't sit down. But he was well enough to take his final exams in school.

"I never expected to do so well and now I'm really excited about starting university in York in September where I am going to study philosophy and politics."

Kimbolton School achieved some of the county's best results for the third year running with an impressive 99 per cent pass rate. 'A' grades accounted for almost 43 per cent of the total, while 92 per cent were A-C.

Top of the class were Isabelle Priest, Olivia Downs and Preety Das, who are all going to Cambridge University after securing 14 A grades between them.

Headmaster Jonathan Belbin said: "I am delighted with these results which reflect the huge amounts of effort put in by pupils and staff over the past two years.

"There can be no doubt that pupils now work far more consistently over the two-year course than was ever the case in the past.