Bumper crop of top A-level grades

STUDENTS and staff at the Thomas Hardye School are celebrating top A-level results that have raised the standard yet again.

Headteacher Dr Iain Melvin said the students had done even better than last year.

He said: "We did brilliantly and I'm just very pleased across the board. We've maintained our standards - we're very good at A-level. Our colleagues have worked hard and the youngsters have worked hard.

"The exams aren't getting any easier and they can only do the exams that get put in front of them.

"We've done particularly well in maths, it's absolutely unbelievable to get 50 A grades."

He added: "I'm particularly pleased with the youngsters who have come to us from Wey Valley and All Saints, they've done very well and that's a tribute to the staff at those schools as well.

They prepared them and we enjoyed working with them."

This year the school achieved an A-level pass rate of 99 per cent.

Within that, 78 per cent were A-C grades and 26 per cent of all grades were the top A grade.

One of the top students, Hugh Cumber, will be celebrating his four A grades in Kenya, where he is currently working on a gap year project.

Hugh will be going to Oxford to read English on his return.

Ed Comben, 18, from Dorchester, also achieved four As - in physics, maths, further maths and history. He got a C in general studies as well, but said he is not counting that one and will be heading to the University of Durham this October for a four-year maths course.

The hard work of Joanna Cottee all became worth it when she achieved A-grades in photography and textiles and a B in geography.

She said: "I definitely wasn't expecting to do as well. There was so much work for art it was unbelievable but it has paid off. I'm going to take a year out and go on a few little trips, earn money and stay with relatives. I'm interested in going on to study textiles or teaching."

Chris Browne, from Dorchester, said: "I did rather well actually, I got three As in my main subjects, an A in general studies and B in critical thinking.

"I've just got back from doing some teaching in Spain and backpacking so I'll be staying around here until October when I'm off to Warwick University to do history and politics."

Serita Shone, of Wyke Regis, screamed when she got her results, and jumped into the arms of her friends. She said: "I got an A in physical education which I was desperate for, because it's my passion and I need it for university.

"I'm going to Bath to study sport. This summer I've been doing a lot of heptathalon training, I'm on the international team and do seven combined events that include hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, long jump, and 200 and 800-metre races.

"I'm just so excited I can't speak."

Hayley Granger, of Dorchester, said: "I got three As in English, media ethics and philosophy. I wasn't expecting that at all. It was a massive surprise and this is the best morning of my life.

"I think we'll be getting very drunk tonight.

"There's a massive group of us, so watch out Dorchester tonight."

45 per cent As and Bs at Budmouth

ANXIETY gave way to relieved smiles when Budmouth Technology College pupils ripped open envelopes containing their A-level results.

The hard-working Weymouth students bettered the national pass rate of 96.9 per cent by clocking up a 97 per cent pass rate.

Some 45 per cent of the passes were A and B grades.

Pupil Tom May, who received three As, hit out at critics who claim A-levels are getting easier.

He said: "I'd challenge anyone who says A-levels are getting easier to come and sit them.

"I don't think you can compare the new exams to the old ones because exam technique counts for a lot."

Weymouth resident Tom, 18, will go on to study physics at Southampton University.

David Akers, principal of the sixth form college, echoed Tom's sentiments.

He said: "It's rubbish to suggest the exams are getting easier because it does not give credence to the work the youngsters and the staff put into their A-levels."

Mr Akers paid tribute to the efforts of all those involved in Budmouth's good results.

He said: "We talk about a three-on' approach between parents, staff and students.

"Parents have played a major part in it and our staff put a huge amount of work into it, as have the students."

Madeleine Pullen will take up a place at Oxford University to study maths after racking up four As in maths, further maths, chemistry and physics.

"I've always been good at maths and I think it will lead to a good career," she said.

Chip Llewellyn was joined by his dad and his brother to pick up his results and was delighted to discover his two As and two Bs would allow him to study medicine at Southampton University.

"I want to be a doctor because it's a fulfilling job and it'll allow me to give something back," he said.

The first person pupil Laura Jones called to break the news of her two As and a B grade was her mum.

"I got up really early and was very nervous this morning but I got the results, called my mum and she just screamed," she said.

College students set sights on university

UNIVERSITY beckons for Weymouth College students who have worked their way to top grades at A-level.

The college's 2007 entrants achieved an overall pass rate of 94 per cent, with 31 per cent gaining A or B grades.

Some 60 per cent of all A-levels achieved were A to C grades.

College principal Sue Moore said: "Results day is always exciting.

"I'm very happy to have seen so many smiling faces and I haven't seen anyone crying so that's good news."

The long wait for results proved almost unbearable for student Sally Lester, who got three As and a B.

The 17-year-old will go to central America for a gap year before studying journalism at City University.

She said: "I wasn't very nervous in the weeks building up to today but this morning it just hit me.

"I think my parents are even happier than me about it," she added.

Student Nick Houston has made a dramatic about-turn after leaving the Army to study A-levels.

His two As, a B and a D grade will allow him to go on to Exeter University to study geography.

He said: "I've got a big bottle of wine in my bag which I'm going to open after I finish work."

Lecturer Mark Chutter said the English department had recorded 35 A grades in total.

He said: "The students work so hard for their grades and I think it's important to make the point that exams aren't getting easier."

Some 19 A-level subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate at the college.

AS-level student Ross Harrison, from Portland, has set the bar high for his final year of study at the college.

He scored straight As in all four of his AS-levels.

Mrs Moore added: "These great results demonstrate that the students at Weymouth College are capable of the very highest achievement and of competing with the very best in any other part of the country.

"Some students, who didn't attain high grades but gained the qualifications, did so working under extreme pressure and there will be many students who have accomplished so much and overcome many hurdles to achieve these results."

Delight in Bridport and Beaminster schools

STUDENTS from Bridport and Beaminster are celebrating record A-level results.

The Sir John Colfox and Beaminster schools' sixth form partnership saw 99 per cent of its pupils gain passes.

The biggest number ever achieved A-C grades, with an average A-C pass rate of over 78 per cent.

More than 50 per cent of students achieved As and Bs, and many were rewarded with confirmation of their first choice university places.

Colfox headteacher Kay Taylor said outcomes for pupils on both sites had exceeded predictions.

"We are absolutely delighted with these results, which record the best ever sixth form results for our students," she said.

Beaminster headteacher Mike Best said: "These represent a very powerful set of results given the truly comprehensive nature of our students."

Kirsty Dannan, Laura Dunford, Lauren Poole, Michael Ray, Matthew Adams and Holly Neill achieved As across the board.

Stephanie Harris achieved 3 As and a B while Rebecca Black, Sophie Butcher, Rebecca Donovan, Lora Pascoe, Oliver Randall, Kayleigh Roots and Alice Ward all achieved two As.

The results for the Diploma of Child Education (DCE) were particularly strong with 20 As and nine Bs out of 33 grades.

Some students were entered for A-level and AS courses early. Bethan Burson, a year 11 student at Colfox, achieved an A in French, and Matthew Huxley, a year 10 student, achieved a B in AS Media Studies.

At AS level Katie Churchouse and Oliver Tweed achieved three A grades. Zoe Bevis, Zoe Duke, Douglas Dare, Joseph Horne, Georgina Hunt, Sophie Linwood and Martha Michaud achieved at least two A grades. Douglas Dare achieved pass grades in five courses.

Mrs Taylor added: "They have worked exceptionally hard and we are proud of all of them. I wish them all the best for the future."

Just the tonic for Miriam

LYME Regis pupils from the Woodroffe School recorded a pass rate of 95 per cent, with 32 per cent of those A or B grades.

Pupil Miriam Hillyard topped her year group with five A grades and will go on to study medicine at Oxford University.

Other high achievers include Tom Floyd, who attained three As, a B and a C, and Synne Hathway, with three As.

Sophie Wild and Phillip Spencer gained two As, a B and a C, and Natasha Lovell achieved two As, a B and a D.

• GIRLS at Leweston School helped the Sherborne independent school to its best ever A-level results.

Some 76 per cent of A-levels were passed at grade A or B - smashing last year's record of 62 per cent.

Nine pupils gained three or more grade As.

Headteacher Adrian Aylward said: "These results are a tribute to the dedication of the school's teaching staff and to all the hard work put in by the girls themselves."