Four of the best

OVER THE MOON. . . lauren Stockton, Luke Weldon, Beth Longden and Rebekah Griffith

GCSE 2008 II

A TALENTED quartet of Failsworth students gave their newly-revamped school something else to celebrate-after bringing home top GCSE results.

Table tennis champ Rebekah Griffith (16) was smiling former ear to ear after scooping nine A*s, one A, two Bs and four Cs.

The talented teen, from Brierley Avenue, regularly competes in international table tennis tournaments, becoming the only English woman to reach the final of the world schools competition in Malta two months before she sat her exams.

She said: “I was training in my sport for around 30 hours a week and I think I just got through it with lots of breakdowns and crying! I was expecting to drop on at least a few grades and was really surprised that I did so well. The school were really helpful. ”

Rebekah will now study a sports BTec at Hopwood Hall College and hopes to eventually become a professional table tennis player.

Lauren Stockton (16), from Farm Street, was cock-a-hoop after gaining eight A*s, two As and six Cs.

Lauren, who will study for A levels at Loretto College in Manchester, said: “I was over the moon with the results.”

Beth Longden (16), from Hollins, has her heart set on becoming physiotherapist after gaining four A*s, one A, four Bs and five Cs. She will study for her A levels at Ashton Sixth Form College.

And hard worker Luke Welden, from Chamber Street, showed strength across all the subjects with 16 C grades.

Luke, who will study A levels at ManCat, said:”I was ecstatic when I opened my results. I was expecting at least a few Ds.”