An anxious few weeks for thousands of young people came to an end yesterday (Thursday) when this year's A Level results were announced.

And there was good news for local students at Tenby's Greenhill School, Netherwood School, Saundersfoot and Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in Whitland, who have celebrated record breaking results.

With an overall pass rate of 99.5 per cent, Greenhill School headmaster, Mr. Chris Noble, was delighted to report the best set of results ever.

Twenty-seven per cent of Year 13 candidiates gained grade As, while 78 per cent picked up grades A to C.

The vast majority of the students will now be able to take up their first choice university placement, with only a very small number of pupils not quite achieving the grades they needed.

Mr. Noble was pleased that a large number of students gained three or more A grades, with two pupils now going on to further education at Oxford or Cambridge.

Students in Year 12 who sat their first year AS Levels also mirrored the performance of the Year 13, while those who took the VCE qualification (formerly the GNVQ examinations) have also done equally well.

"We are very very pleased with the results," Mr. Noble told the Observer.

"They are the best results ever."

Mr. Noble also paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of the students and staff, as well as the support and encourgement from the students' parents.

"Everyone has worked extremely hard and must be congratulated on a successful year," he said.

There was also good news at Netherwood School, where all continuing sixth form candidates passed their AS examinations with A to D grades, giving the school a superb 100 per cent pass rate.

"In terms of ability this represents exceptional results," commented a 'very happy' principal, Mr. Huw Morris.

"Overall this is better than we could have hoped for in our first year of having a sixth form," he continued.

"The success comes largely from allowing the students to choose their own A, AS and AVC subjects and creating tutor groups that range in size from one to five students," he added.

Mr. Robert Newsome, headmaster at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf School, was also "extremely proud" of this year's results - the best achieved by the school.

The percentage of students gaining A-B grades was 52.4, while 75.3 per cent gained A-C grades and 98.2 per cent A-E grades. The average point score was 18.5.

"The school wishes to congratulate students on the success achieved at A Level during the current academic year," he said.

"These students have shown both dedication and perseverance in their studies throughout their time at Dyffryn Taf and deserve the accolade associated with this success.

"The performance reflects the efforts and effective partnership existing between individual students, their parents and the teachers at Dyffryn Taf.

"The school endeavours to produce well rounded individuals who have a diversity of skills to meet the various demands of higher education and employment. It is hoped that the school's community programme of post 16 work experience and cultural and competitive opportunities will further enhance the potential of these students and complement the excellent results achieved.

"On behalf of the students and Governors of the school, I wish to thank all the staff for their dedication and providing the quality and diversity of educational experiences for all at the school. We wish all the A-Level students every success in the future."

The school also noted with some pride the invididual achievements of some pupils, including Ruth McCole, who gained four A grades and was awarded one of the top five marks in Biology and Human Biology A Level out of 10,816 candidates who sat the examination this summer.

Three grade As were achieved by Matthew Davies, Iwan Price-Evans, Freya Shipton and Kirsty Stone.

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

It's success once again for students attending A(S) classes at Tenby's Greenhill Community Education Centre. Congratulations are extended to Sara Andrew - English Literature ELIT I, 2 and 3, Bryony Coates-Rees - ELIT 1, 2 and 3, Julia Dashfield - English Literature ELIT 2 and 3, Toyah Fecci - English Literature ELIT 1 and 3, and Christine Thomas - English Literature ELIT 1, 2 and 3.

Special congratulations must be extended to Bryony Coates-Rees who achieved a grade A in all three papers and was only two marks short of the maximum mark possible in all three. A truly remarkable result. Well done.

Special congratulations also to Joel Taylor who only joined the A Level Mathematics class in March this year and achieved a grade A pass in Pure 1 with 94 marks out of 100.

The students will be continuing with their studies next year in order to obtain the full A-level.

Anyone wishing to emulate their success may do so by joining evening classes at Greenhill Centre. Full details of the centre's programme, both vocational and non-vocational, may be found in the county's Life-long Learning brochure.

Brochures are available now from the centre, library, local post offices, doctors' surgeries and supermarkets.

If you require further advice or guidance regarding courses please ring Tenby 843297.