CAERPHILLY

THE pass rate for Caerphilly county students was 98.13 per cent, while A*-A grades were at 16.9 per cent and 72.9 per cent of grades were at C or above.

Jack Mainwaring, 18, from Blackwood, who studied at Coleg Gwent Crosskeys campus will be attending Cambridge this year after scoring 5 A*s in maths, further maths, Welsh, chemistry and biology, and will study natural science at Churchill College, Cambridge from next month.

The former Pontllanfraith Comprehensive pupil said: “These were my predicted grades but I’m really happy to actually get them. I’m really thankful to the college and I’m looking forward to go and study natural science because it’s such a varied course.”

Libby Goodenough, 18, and Matthew Bowen, 17, both achieved the same grades, for the same subjects, and will be going to the same university come September.

The couple achieved 3 A* and 1 A in biology, chemistry, maths, and physics, and will attend Birmingham University to study medicine and pharmacy respectively.

Abbey Lloyd, 18, from Newbridge, was overjoyed with her 2 A* and 1 A in biology, maths and chemistry. She will now go on to study pharmacy at Cardiff University.

Abbie Stark, 18, from Blackwood, got three As in Welsh, English and Psychology, and will study the latter at Cardiff University from next month.

Elsewhere, Cwmcarn High School celebrated a 100 per cent pass rate among their sixth form students.

The school has had a turbulent 18 months due to its asbestos-related closure in October 2012 and pupils were moved to Coleg Gwent’s Ebbw Vale campus.

Helen Breen, head of sixth form said it had been a testing year for all involved but the results "speak volumes".

Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Blackwood had its best year yet according to its head teacher Owain ap Dafydd.

The school achieved 84 per cent A*-C grades, 54 per cent A*-B, and 21 per cent A*-A.

A record number of pupils passed with grades A*-C at Lewis School Pengam, while more students than ever passed with A*- A grades.

Bedwas High School saw 20 per cent of pupils achieved A*-A; 83 per cent got A*-C; and 95 per cent passed with A*-E.

All students who applied for places at university at St Martin’s School in Caerphilly were successful.

Cllr Rhianon Passmore, cabinet member for education at Caerphilly council, said the results were "fantastic".