Jubilant students were today celebrating after years of blood, sweat and tears yielded an impressive crop of A-level results.

Champagne corks popped at Southend schools as some pupils notched up 100 per cent pass rates with record numbers achieving the top grades.

Nationally, headline statistics showed the pass rate rose from 89.8 per cent to 94.3 per cent, while the proportion awarded the top grade rose to more than one in five.

Tony Nicholson, a teacher at Westcliff High School for Girls in Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff, was delighted with the success of his pupils.

He said: "Our results were out of this world. We had a 100 per cent pass rate so we couldn't have done much better and 73 per cent got A or B grades."

"Thirteen of the 120 girls who took the exams got the results they needed to go to Oxford or Cambridge - a school record."

Southend High School for Girls also achieved a 100 percent pass rate. Of the 103 students, 70 per cent achieved A and B grades with a 15 per cent increase from last year in the top grades.

Tim Gartside, deputy head at Westcliff High School for Boys, said pupils were celebrating a 99.5 per cent pass rate and 65 per cent of pupils achieved grades A-B.

He said: "The group have been outstanding and it is fitting that they have received the best results the school have ever achieved."

South East Essex College students have produced better results than ever with the overall pass rate of the 464 pupils being 96 per cent.

Students at the Billericay School, who achieved a 97 per cent pass rate last year, were celebrating some of the best results in the district yet again with a 97.4 per cent pass rate

Headteacher Sue Hammond said: "We had seven students who got straight As and we have high hopes for our three Oxford and Cambridge candidates."

Beauchamps School in Wickford saw an increase in its pass rate from 85 per cent last year to 93 per cent as well as a slight increase in grades and passes per student.

Staff at Seevic college in Thundersley, were today celebrating a 93 per cent pass rate.

Students bagged 100 per cent pass rates in 20 A-level subjects. Ryan Williams, of Hereford Walk, Basildon, gained four A grades and one B grade at A-level.

Published Thursday August 15, 2002

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