A-level celebrations (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

A-level celebrations

Students at St Augustine's Catholic College (17458)YEARS of hard work came to fruition yesterday as hundreds of A-level students picked up their results.

The celebratory mood in west Wiltshire schools was not dampened despite the British Chambers of Commerce claiming standards were falling.

There were at least two schools achieving 100 per cent pass rates, compared to a national average of 96.2 per cent a modest rise on last year's figure of 96 per cent.

Brendan Wall, headteacher at St Augustine's Catholic College said he was thrilled with his 88 students, who between them managed a clean sweep of passes.

Nearly 40 per cent of passes were at grade A and 99 per cent of students passed two A-levels or more. He said: "We are absolutely delighted for the students and the staff both of whom have worked very hard."

The George Ward School in Melksham also achieved a 100 per cent pass rate and a five per cent increase in A-C grades.

Headteacher Dr Pam Stoate said: "The governors and I are very pleased with these results, which represent so much hard work from both staff and students. We are delighted with the significant rise in results this year and look forward to building on this success with our next sixth form."

At the combined Trowbridge sixth form centre, comprising The John of Gaunt School and The Clarendon College, the overall pass rate was 90 per cent, with 52 per cent at A-C grades.

Clarendon head of sixth form Ben Rose said: "We are very pleased with the students' individual performances and with the value added compared to their predicted grades."

John of Gaunt student Kate Shipton is off to Oxford after notching up three A grade passes. Fellow students Katie Rattnet and Heidi Worth were also celebrating three top grades each.

John of Gaunt headteacher Andy Packer said: "I am delighted with our outstanding success at A-level and we are confident we will do even better next year based on our AS level results."

Students at Matravers School achieved the best results the sixth form has ever seen. Pupils at the Westbury school achieved a 98 per cent pass rate, with 64 per cent gaining A-C grades.

Star performer Alex Jones, 18, of Station Road, Westbury, gained A grades in art, dance and history and a B in French.

She said: "I'm very happy now but I was so nervous I couldn't eat this morning.

"I was quietly hopeful but I wasn't expecting to do as well as this, especially in French. It's amazing but it's the result of seven years of hard work."

Alex is going to Southampton in October to study history.

Outgoing headteacher Nigel Gilhespy was thrilled with the results in his last year in charge.

"We are delighted. They're the best results we've ever had and they are a clear reward for all the hard work from students and staff. With being a relatively new sixth form we were still finding our feet."

Pupils at St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon, achieved a 98 per cent pass rate with 59 per cent of grades at A or B, a three per cent increase on last year. Headteacher James Colquhoun said: "Students have done very well this year. I am thrilled by the perseverance of our young people and professionalism of the staff."

Meanwhile Stonar School, in Atworth, were toasting a 99.3 per cent success rate.

One of the top performers was Lindsey Reason, 18, who secured two A grades in psychology and biology and a B in chemistry. She has been accepted at the medical school at Pennsylvania University.

Sixth form staff at Warminster School said they were over the moon with the 99 per cent pass rate and a record breaking A-B pass rate of 50 per cent.

Three Oxbridge candidates, Edward Dickins, Lauren Hawkins and Benjamin Simonds, achieved an astonishing 13 A grades between them.

Head of sixth form Graeme McQueen said he was proud of all the students.

At Kingdown School, Warminster, Sheelagh Brown said she was "very pleased" with the 97 per cent pass rate.

The school's top performer was Vicky Syrett, who achieved four A grades. Of the 81 other students sitting exams at the school, six managed to gain three A grades.

Mrs Brown said: "There were lots of smiling faces in the assembly hall this morning and both the staff and the students are delighted with the results."

Bob Wolfson, Wiltshire County Council's director for children and education, said he was proud of the county's students.

"They have worked extremely hard and received excellent guidance and support from their teachers and from those around them.

"It is a shame that every year the outstanding successes of young people are marred by the silly debates about the standards of A-levels and their comparability with past papers."

Don't miss next week'sWiltshire Times for the A-level results