Champagne corks were flying in Essex today as hundreds of students celebrated fine A-level results.
A for absolutely thrilled - students Danielle Shore and Jude Harison celebrate at Seevic College Picture: ROB WELHAM
Across the country this year's pass rate soared to 96 per cent - the 22nd annual rise in a row.
Students at Seevic College in Benfleet cheered as results hit an all-time high, a whopping 97 per cent pass rate. And 21 of the A-level subjects offered achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.
Outstanding student Jamie Callison, 19, from Rochford, took five A grades at A-level, in psychology, classical civilisation, English literature, history and general studies. He is to read English and classics at Cambridge.
Jude Harrison, 18, of Greenacres, Hadleigh, who said he was more nervous during the exams than waiting for the results, achieved three A grades and two B grades.
Danielle Shore, 18, of Moat Rise, Rayleigh, who achieved two A grades and three B grades, hit back at criticism A-levels are getting easier. She said: "How is it right for them to belittle us like that? It cannot be fair. Personally, I think teachers are used to the curriculum."
A-level students at Beauchamps High School in Beauchamps Drive, Wickford, were celebrating, with 98 per cent passing.
More than ten per cent achieved three A grades and 62 per cent got A to C passes.
Three students at Southend High School for Girls achieved five A grades, a further ten got four As and ten more passed three A-levels with As.
Delighted headteacher David Mansfield said: "It's always pleasing to see the fruits of the hard work that goes on over the year. It is continuous hard work that gets the results."
There was extra cause for celebration at Westcliff High School for Girls, where all A-level students passed. Only one girl had a non-pass in one of her subjects but she passed the rest of them.
The pass rate of 99.8 per cent beats the rate of 98.4 per cent last year. Ninety-two per cent achieved A to C grades.
More in today's Evening Echo
Published Thursday August 19, 2004
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