A-levels: The big round-up

There were tears of joy and disappointment. But after two years of hard work, all the West Sussex teenagers looked relieved the waiting was over.

For some, their dreams were one step closer. For others, the next few days of the clearing process would determine what happens next.

At Boundstone Community College, Lancing, which was recently criticised by Ofsted inspectors, students and staff were jubilant.

The school celebrated its best-ever results, with two pupils winning places at Oxford. It recorded a 93 per cent pass rate and 57 per cent of grades were A to C.

It was a real turnaround for a school placed on special measures after a damning report by the government watchdog two months earlier.

Students queued up outside the sixth form college and nervously filed into the building. Within minutes the envelopes were open and there were hugs, smiles and gasps of relief.

Jamie Cockrill, 18, of Ambleside, Sompting, was delighted to win a place to study physics at Oxford University. He got As in maths, physics and general studies, B in English and was awaiting his Sociology result.

He said: "It has been hard work but I am really pleased to be going to Oxford.

"I just told my mum and she nearly crushed my girlfriend she hugged her so hard.

"I needed two As and a B, so I was under a lot of pressure. I've been a nervous wreck for the last couple of days.

"Now I can't wait to sip tea at Oxford."

Jamie only had praise for the sixth form. He said: "Most of our A-level classes were groups of about seven or eight, which really made a difference.

"The school may have a bit of work to do but the sixth form is brilliant."

Katie-Ann Heath, 18, of North Farm Road, Lancing, will study English at Oxford after gaining As in English, sociology and music.

She said: "I was expecting the worst so when I saw my results I was a bit overwhelmed. It's still sinking in.

"The results show the school is not that bad after all."

Katie-Ann hopes hope the grades will take her one step closer to achieving her ambition of becoming a novelist.

In the meantime, she and Jamie were looking forward to a celebratory drink in the pub.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of Emma Haskins, 18, of Hayley Road, Lancing.

She had convinced herself she had failed her media studies exam but instead got an A.

She said: "The exams went really badly. Now I can't wait to study journalism, film and broadcasting at Cardiff University."

Headteacher Richard Evea, who was drafted in to help the troubled school, was thrilled with the record-breaking results.

He said: "The students deserve full credit because it has been a troubled year for them. They have concentrated, worked hard and got the grades they needed.

"This is a tribute to them and a huge relief to us.

"I am also really pleased for the staff, who have proved beyond doubt they can teach well.

"Any school would be proud of a third of results being As and Bs."

Mr Evea said he was looking forward to starting off the new school year on a positive note.

At Worthing College the late arrival of some results meant several students were left on tenterhooks.

Merryl Consterdine, 18, from Broadwater, near Worthing, said: "I've got an A for French and a B for German which means I can do French and Spanish at Sussex University."

For Chris Feldwick, 18, it was the moment he had been waiting for.

As he opened the envelope he realised he had done better than he could ever have hoped - four As.

The stress of the exams was over and he had secured his place to do law and computing at Bath University.

As he shared his success with former classmates, the mood outside the college was jubilant.

Lisa Gilbert, 18, from Keymer Crescent in Worthing, brought her mother Jenny and friend James along for support.

She shed tears of happiness as she found out she had obtained two As in information and computer technology and a C in maths.

She said: "This means I can do computing and IT at Surrey."

At Lancing College the partying was already in full swing as the students had received their results several hours before those in Worthing.

Students celebrated with passes in 294 out of 297 A-levels taken.

More than 66 per cent of results were A or Bs, a three per cent rise on last year.

One in five students gained three or more grade As. Among those to gain four was Mary Linden, 17, of Brighton Road, Worthing.

She obtained 4 As in Latin, ancient Greek, theology and theatre studies.

She said: "I was so nervous this morning I thought I was going to be sick.

"But now I've got the results I feel numb and can't stop smiling. It means I can study classics at Oxford University."

Caroline Dale, 18, from Crossways in West Chiltington secured her place at York University to study history with her four A-grades.

Paul Sherrell, 18, from Third Avenue in Lancing, gained As in German, chemistry, maths and economics.

His success has led him to rethink his university plans.

He said: "I've been guaranteed a place at Nottingham University to study economics but as I got 4 As I might see if I can get into Cambridge next year instead."

The other students getting top grades were Julia Benham-Hermetz from Bramber, near Steyning, Sam Tyson of Clifton Road, Brighton, and Alex Muzio of Rushlake Road, Brighton.

At Our Lady of Sion School, Worthing, 32 students achieved the best set of A-level results since the school's records began in 1987.

They recorded a 100 per cent pass rate and 66 per cent were A and B grades.

Top performers included Asa Bluck, Louise Byars, Amish Chinoy, Jennifer Clark, Matthew David and Elizabeth Evans.

At Steyning Grammar School, students were celebrating as two pupils won places at Oxford and two at Cambridge.

The pass rate was more than 97 per cent.

Headteacher Peter Senior said: "These are good results. Congratulations to students and staff for all they have achieved."

At Littlehampton Community School students and staff were celebrating a pass rate of 96 per cent with 60 per cent getting A to C-grades.

Students included Kim Burge, who gained five A-levels, including two As in English and general studies. She will now be going to Manchester University to study maths and English.

Fellow pupil Louise Tyler gained three As in history, psychology and sociology. She is looking forward to studying history and sociology at Warwick University.

Headteacher Geoff Smith, said: "The range and quality of these results is very pleasing - to the students, their families and the school."

At St Philip Howard Catholic High School in Barnham, near Bognor, students secured a 95 per cent pass rate, of which 28 per cent were at A-grade.

Headteacher Francis Casey paid tribute to the dedication and talents of staff and students.

At The Weald School in Billingshurst students broke all previous records. More than 50 per cent of the entries were at grade A or B and 75 per cent from A to C.

Isabel Kington, Laura Poots, Sian Tomlinson and Shilpa Jethwa all secured top grades.

Headteacher Peter May said: "We're extremely pleased the hard work of students and teachers has been so well rewarded in this record year."

At Bishop Luffa School in Chichester students secured a 98 per cent pass rate and 21 per cent of all grades were A.

Six students achieved four As - Richard Brown, Esther Burden-Teh, Samuel Carter, Victoria Fairfield, Caroline Moorcroft and Richard Taunt.

Headteacher Nick Taunt said: "I am delighted at our students' performance. The achievements of many have surpassed expectation."