More than three quarters of candidates achieved senior status in the record-breaking latest round of National Qualification in Journalism examinations.

A total of 58 journalists out of 76, representing 76pc of those sitting, passed the exams in July – the highest pass rate since the NQJ replaced the National Certificate in Journalism (NCE) three years ago.

It beats the previous record of 74pc passing, set at the exams’ last sitting in March of this year.

The exams were sat at seven different centres across the UK on Friday 8 July.

Steve Nelson, NCTJ chief examiner, said: “I am full of admiration for today’s trainee journalists, who are not only multi-skilled and operating on various platforms but also required to show thorough knowledge in ever-expanding areas of media law and ethics.

“The NQJ exams can only be taken after a minimum training period of 18 months, and during that time the trainees will have tackled a multitude of stories and honed their skills.

“The attainment of the industry’s professional qualification remains a key moment in the careers of these journalists.”

Candidates must be successful in all four parts of the NQJ – interview, media law and practice, logbook and news report – to pass and achieve senior status.

Of the 76 participating, 57 were sitting for the first time, with 19 candidates re-sitting parts of the exam.

There was a record 83pc rate for the news interview paper, with 59 successful candidates from the 71 who sat.

The media law and practice paper produced an 89pc pass rate, with success for 58 of the 65 candidates.

Fifty five candidates passed the news report exam. In total, 71 candidates sat this exam, giving a pass rate of 77pc, just short of the record 79pc success in March 2016.

In the e-logbook section, there was a 95pc pass rate, with 58 successful candidates from 61 who submitted their work.

The next NQJ exam will take place on Friday 4 November 2016, with the closing date for enrolment being Friday, 23 September 2016.

The full list of newly-qualified seniors is as follows:

Naomi Agius, Bracknell News

Polly Albany-Ward, Croydon Advertiser

Samuel Balls, Essex Chronicle

Thomas Barnes, Waltham Forest Guardian

Federica Bedendo, Times & Star

Guy Bell, Brentwood Gazette

Jessica Bell, News Shopper

Emma Kate Billingham, Maidenhead Advertiser

Ralph Blackburn, Ilford Recorder

Benjamin Blosse, Hull Daily Mail

John Blow, Wakefield Express

Jonny Bonell, North Devon Journal

Richard Brown, Essex Chronicle

Rachael Burford, Surrey Comet

Iain Burns, Newham Recorder

Michael Carr, Southern Daily Echo

Rebecca Choules, Hemel Hempstead Gazette

Michael Cox, Yellow Advertiser

Isaac Anthony Crowson, Derby Evening Telegraph

Arandeep Singh Dhillon, Warrington Guardian

Matthew Discombe, The Gloucester Citizen

Alexander Drury, Bracknell News

Dayna Louise Farrington, Kidderminster Shuttle

David Gazet, Kent Messenger

Jordan Stuart Harris, Express & Star

Daniel Heald, Border Counties Advertizer

Michael Holmes, Blackpool Gazette

Amani Hughes, Surrey Advertiser

Lucy Kenderdine, Oldham Evening Chronicle

Joel Lamy, Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Callum Lawton, Midweek Herald

Stefan Mackley, Gazette & Herald

Felicity MacNamara, Halifax Evening Courier

Bodhi Maia, Central Somerset Gazette

Thomas Malina, Diss Express

William Mata, Harlow Star

Libby McBride, Brentwood Gazette

Samuel Meadows, Hertfordshire Mercury

Hannah Mirsky, Cambridge News

Simon Mulligan, St Helens Star

Jason Noble, Ipswich Star & East Anglian Daily Times

Alistair Stewart Paterson, Bridlington Free Press

Sam Petherick, Bath Chronicle

Jack Pitts, South Wales Evening Post

Clarissa Place, Sidmouth Herald

Michael Race, Oxford Mail

Iram Ramzan, Oldham Evening Chronicle

James Robinson, Andover Advertiser

Daniel Jonathan Sharp, Stourbridge News

David Spereall, Hull Daily Mail

Matthew Stott, Ipswich Star & East Anglian Daily Times

Joshua Thomas, Cambridge News

Liam Waite, Times & Star

Stephanie Danika Wareham, Bucks Free Press

Bethany Whymark, Eastern Daily Press

Andrew Wilkins, Slough Observer

Daniel Wilkins, Exmouth Journal

Tanya Yilmaz, Wiltshire Times