SCHOOL-LEAVERS across the Salisbury district celebrated a bumper crop of high grades in last week's A-level results.

In line with the national trend, record highs were set, with many schools in the area achieving overall pass rates above 90 per cent.

Bishop Wordsworth's Boys' Grammar School, in Salisbury, ranked as one of the top performers in the country, with some 90 per cent of students achieving A, B or C grades and 71.5 per cent gaining As and Bs.

Outstanding achievements came from BWS boys Jack Gillett and Tom Woolford, who both gained an impressive five A-grades.

The average student at the school gained three B grades, with an average of three passes per pupil.

Headmaster Dr Stuart Smallwood said: "This is a very pleasing set of results.

"Our students and their teachers thoroughly deserve all our congratulations on their efforts, which have been so well rewarded," he said.

The picture of excellence was matched by pupils at South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, where the overall pass rate was 99 per cent and 61 per cent of all grades achieved were As or Bs.

Of the 125 students, 18 girls achieved three A-grades or better.

Molly Hudson and Linden Sherriff were each awarded one of the top five grades in the country in communication studies.

At Westwood St Thomas School, in Salisbury, excellent performances came from Alice Waldock, Alex Whitty and Sarah Waldock, who all received A-grade results in all their subjects.

A spokesperson for the school said: "Students performed well in many of the traditional A-level subjects.

"It was interesting to see the very high grades and pass rates for the AVCE (vocational A-levels), particularly in health and social care."

Students at Godolphin School, Salisbury, achieved record high passes across the curriculum. The overall pass rate was again very high, at 99.4 per cent and 52.8 per cent of all grades achieved were at grade A, with 79.1 per cent at A and B.

Outstanding performances were achieved by Sandra Liu, who gained A-grades in all five subjects taken, with Katherina Daud, Yue Ka Chan and Miranda Garret, gaining As in all four subjects taken.

Upper Avon School, Durrington, had 50.8 per cent of pupils achieving grades A-C, nearly 10 per cent up on last year's performance.

John Woodward, assistant head, said: "It is just a good solid performance across the board and a significant improvement on previous years."

Salisbury College celebrated an overall pass rate of 83 per cent.

Salisbury College student Gemma Parfitt obtained three A-grades in English, communication studies and psychology.

Andy Holland achieved A-grades in French and Maths and a C in information communication technology, to gain his place at Cardiff University.

Head of general education Steve Fear said: "Students and tutors have obviously put in a lot of work over the past couple of years and it has definitely paid off."

Pupils in Shaftesbury School/Sturminster Newton High School's sixth form celebrated their results, achieving an overall pass rate above 90 per cent.

Jennifer Woods achieved three straight A-grades, Clare Coward three A-grades and two B-grades, Camilla Yates gained three A-grades and a B, and Terry Ridout obtained two A-grades, two Bs and a C.

Headteacher David Booth said: "We are naturally delighted for the students, who have once again performed so well and achieved so much.

"These results reflect the outcome of two years of very hard work and the dedication of the school's staff," he said.