SCHOOLS in Gwent were celebrating a bumper crop of A level results today.

In Newport, Caerleon Comprehensive School had one of its best years for results.

Headteacher Dr Adrian Davies said the school’s overall A-level pass rate was 99 per cent, with 41 per cent achieving A-grades.

“Thats 167 with A grades,” said Dr Davies.

Both their head girl and deputy head boy will be heading to Oxbridge this year. Bethan Tanner, 18, from Caerleon, earned As in maths, biology and sociology. She will be studying psychology at Oxford.

“It’s unbeliveable,” she said. “I didn’t think I would make it this far. Mum can’t stop crying!”

Robert High, 18, from Llangybi, will be going to Cambridge this autumn to read engineering. He won As in maths, further maths and physics. “I didn’t sleep last night,” he said. “But now I know its a huge weight off my chest.”

Rougemont School, in Malpas, had much to celebrate with a 100 per cent pass rate and over 70 per cent A and B grades.

Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni School in Blackwood achieved their best ever results with 78 per cent of pupils gaining A to C grades.

Assistant headteacher, Rhys Thomas, said: "I am absolutely delighted with the results. They reflect the hard work of the teachers and the pupils who sat the exams."

Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School had an overall A to C pass rate of 73 per cent, which is up on last year's result of 51 per cent.

Nathan Collins and James Gillard, both 18, from Ebbw Vale, received top results in their A Levels and are both going on to study at Oxford in September.

Nathan received three As in Biology, English and History and a B in Law and is going to study Law at the prestigious university.

James received straight As in English, History and French and will study English at Oxford.

Headteacher Mike Fahy said: “They are the best overall results we have had.

“It’s fantastic for the students, they have all worked really hard over the last two years."

Welsh pass rates higher than UK average

NEARLY a quarter of Welsh students were awarded top A grades, with the pass rate rising by 0.5 per cent to 97.6 per cent - higher than the UK average of 97.2 per cent.

However exam board WJEC said the proportion of A grades was the same as last year - 24.1 per cent.

Welsh girls continued to outperform males with 54 per cent of their grades at A or B, compared with 47 per cent of boys.