Students across Sussex were today celebrating highest-ever A-level pass rates for the 19th year running.

Students at Park College, Eastbourne, achieved their best ever results with a 95 per cent pass rate, the highest in its 22-year history.

The college has twice been in the top 20 colleges in the country for A Level results but this is its biggest success in its 22-year history.

More than 360 grade As were achieved at A-level and AS-level.

Deputy principal Jorj Kowszun said: "It has been another great year for our students. The students worked hard throughout the year and deserve the excellent results awarded."

At A-level, 20 of the 22 students passed their exams, with eight getting As and Bs.

There were several outstanding students who achieved all grade As. Top of the class is Susannah Darwent who achieved five As at A-level and another A at AS-Level.

Peter Neale, 18, and Richard Brown both excelled in the science subjects, achieving four grade As.

Peter, from Uckfield, achieved four As in biology, chemistry, physics and maths.

He said: "To be honest I'm just relieved. I'm going to study medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge. I won't be out tonight celebrating, because I'm working the night shift."

Rebecca Stone, Colin Barnard and Sarah Burson also all achieved four grade As.

Rebecca, 18, from Eastbourne, will study biochemistry at Imperial College, London.

She said: "I wasn't sure what I would get. I needed two As and a B to get into college. I was very nervous when I came in this morning."

Pupils at Moira House Girls' School scored a 94 per cent pass rate with 44 per cent of entrants reaching the top A and B grades.

Rachel Dickson, 18, from Eastbourne, achieved two As and a B securing her place to study medicine at University College, London.

She said: "I'm just so happy and relieved. I was very surprised. I wasn't expecting to get them, I hoped I would but I wasn't expecting it."

Her friend, Lorna Clark, 17, also gained an A,A,B and will study law at Warwick University.

She said: "I worked hard and I hoped I would get the results I wanted, but you never know how the exams are going to go.

"At the end of the day, it's in the hands of the examiners."

Nationally, since 1989 the proportion of A grades awarded has almost doubled from 11.4 per cent to 20.7 per cent.

The pass rate in England and Wales rose this year by five per cent to 94.3 per cent. If the rate of increase remains unchecked by 2004 every student will pass.

This summer's A-level students were the first to come through the Government's Curriculum 2000 reforms.

Pupils now take AS-level exams at the end of their first year of study, followed by A-levels a year later.

But despite the record results, concerns have been raised about students facing heavier workloads because of the reforms.

Wealden MP Charles Hendry called for AS-levels to be scrapped.

He said: "I congratulate those students who have done well this summer.

"But students, parents and teachers have all complained that students feel they are being turned into exam factories."

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said teachers and students deserved credit.

He said: "The annual blood-letting about standards is getting completely out of hand."