Ref. 26184-42 Students awaiting results last yearYEARS of hard work have paid off for Swindon students who have once again helped break the country's A level results record.

The grades published today revealed more youngsters than ever have done well at the exams, which has prompted critics to yet again suggest papers have got easier.

The end of a summer of waiting inevitably brought lows as well as highs for Swindon sixth-formers.

But those who didn't achieve their grades were urged to look at other options.

At Swindon College, the pass rate was 95 per cent a drop from last year's 97 per cent with 54 per cent of passes being A to C grades. Seventeen subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.

But college spokeswoman Amanda Burnside said staff are delighted with the results.

"We are a very inclusive college with a huge range of students," she said.

"The top students do very well but a C or D grade is a major achievement for students who didn't get great results at GCSEs.

"The pass rate is slightly down from last year but we are in line with the national results.

"Our students have worked very hard and they are to be congratulated."

About 200 Swindon youngsters who study at Cirencester College received their grades today.

The college achieved a 99 per cent pass rate a three per cent increase on last year.

More than 70 per cent of passes were at A to C grades and 35 subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.

Principal Nigel Robbins said: "The results this year are nothing short of spectacular.

"We are very proud of our students and this is abundant evidence that a good college like Cirencester can give students a real choice of subjects but still come up with excellent results at A level.

"It is not surprising that students are willing to travel a long way to benefit from what we have to offer here."

Other Swindon institutions releasing the results were New College, Wootton Bassett School, Ridgeway School and St Joseph's School.

Nationally, the overall pass rate rose to 96 per cent from 95.4 per cent last year the 22nd consecutive rise in the pass rate.

The number of A grades increased by 0.2 per cent to 22.4 per cent.

David Miliband, Minister for school standards, defended the exams.

He said: "These results are built on the hard work of students, schools and colleges. I congratulate the students and thank our teachers for their commitment. My message to them is simple. Don't let anyone tell you that standards have dropped because more of you have done well, this is simply a myth."

Company bosses today said they were satisfied with this year's A level results, but said too many young people are leaving school without a good grasp of the three Rs.

Digby Jones, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "The hard work of A level students and teachers deserves praise.

"I am worried that the discussion about grade inflation is taking the education debate in this country on an annual wild goose chase.

"It is not true that thousands of employers are fretting about differentiating between the brightest students. They are more worried by the real education scandal, which is the number of students who come out of the system totally unprepared for today's world of work."

Bhavani Vadde