EXAM success runs in the Strong family as siblings Maria and Alex celebrated top results.

A week after Maria achieved three A*s in her A Levels, younger brother Alex received straight 8 and 9 grades in his GCSEs at Newcastle’s Dame Allan’s Schools.

Alex’s achievements are made the more remarkable as his revision schedule was severely hindered when he suffered a displaced fracture in his sternum whilst playing rugby for the school, which required a steel plate to be inserted just four days before his first exam.

Maria said: “I’m pleased for him because he had his little injury beforehand and I didn’t think he would do great, so I am happy it has worked out for him.

“There hasn’t really been any rivalry between us as he has always been smarter than me, so I’m not surprised he has done well!”

Alex said: “There was a little bit of pressure on me to do well after Maria’s results last week, and I was nervous about that but I’m pleased we have both done so well.”

Their parents were unsurprisingly pleased with both sets of results. Father Jon Strong, who teaches modern foreign languages at Dame Allan’s, and mother Elspeth Thomson said: “We are super proud of both of them, and we are happy to see them reach their potential.

“They are great children and it is nice to see them working hard in school but also managing to maintain a balance to enjoy life.”