VARNDEAN College in Brighton is celebrating a 97 per cent A-level pass rate.

Despite many sitting their first public exams after GCSEs were hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, the school said results were exceptional.

In a year where the proportion of top grades has dropped to fight grade inflation, many students are excited to be heading to universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and the Royal School of Needlework.

Donna-Marie Janson, principal, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students this year, particularly under the circumstances they have found themselves to be in due to the global pandemic and to what they have achieved in what is for most of them their first set of public examinations.

“They have been inspiring to work with, to teach and to get to know. It’s really important to have a results day face to face with our students.”

Varndean has seen record statistics in subjects such as maths, where for the first time the college achieved an 100 per cent pass rate in maths.

Many students have also achieved the top grades, with around a third of students seeing an A* or A in their envelopes.

Lily Taylor, 18, achieved A*s in biology and bhemistry, as well as a B in history, and will now be studying chemistry at the University of York.

She found results day “pretty nerve wracking" but said she as very happ and looking forward to university which would be “hard but fun”.

Her dad Alan joked that it would be “great to get the extra room back”, while mum Emma was “very proud".

Molly Baker-Brown achieved exceptional results, with three A*s as well as an A* in the Extended Project.

Molly, who will now read English at King’s College London, said: “It was quite challenging because I had never sat any exams before but it was made as easy as possible for us by the teachers.

“I didn’t really get the chance to prepare for GCSEs so it was completely unchartered.”