As thousands of students across the country picked up their A Level results yesterday (Thursday), local secondary schools were celebrating another record-breaking set of grades.

At Tenby's Greenhill School and Ysgol Gyfun Dyffryn Taf in Whitland, pupils achieved some of the best results ever.

Out of an overall entry of 73 students at the Tenby school, six candidates gained straight As in the subjects they sat and 10 pupils achieved 30 points or more.

Pupils gained an average 19 points each, which resulted in the average point score per subject being over a grade C at 6.5 per cent.

"The results are the best we have ever had," said a delighted headteacher, Mr. Chris Noble.

Students taking GNVQ exams also triumphed with some outstanding results, while students in Year 12 who sat the new AS Levels picked up almost identical results to the A Level students in Year 13.

"We are really thrilled with all the results we have received," commented Mr. Noble.

"There have been very few disappointments," he continued.

"The A Level students have been particularly able and conscientious this year; their results are very well deserved and most of them will be taking up their first choice university place."

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

"What is particularly pleasing about the new AS Levels is although there was so much uncertainty surrounding them and not enough was known about the examinations, the results have been very favourable," he explained.

"We are also now anticipating some good results from the Key Skills examinations which will be out in September."

As a whole, results in all of Pembrokeshire's eight secondary schools have shown an improvement both on last year's results and compared with the national average, it was revealed.

The average pass rate (A-E) is 95 per cent, 0.7 per cent above the national average and a 1.4 per cent increase on last year's result.

Higher grade (A-C) passes show an even greater improvement, 4.8 per cent above last year's figure and 2.2 per cent above the all-Wales result.

For the first time this summer students in Year 12 could also gain the new Advanced Subsidiary (AS) qualification, the result of their first year of study in the sixth form.

Pembrokeshire's students have gained excellent results in the first year of this exam, with 24.1 per cent of students gaining A grades, which is 3.9 per cent above the Welsh average. A total of 71.3 per cent achieved A-C passes (6.3 per cent above the national figure) and A-E grade passes were achieved by 94.6 per cent of students, which was 4.2 per cent over the national average.

The chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council's education committee, Clr. John Thomas, was delighted with the level of improvement.

He said: "These results are excellent and an indication of the dedication and hard work of students, schools and parents across the county. I wish these young people every success in their chosen career."

The county council's head of professional education, Graham Longster, commented: "I am particularly pleased with the increase in A-C passes at A Level and results at AS Level.

"There has been much concern voiced nationally regarding the new AS qualification and the extra workload involved.

"Our results compare most favourably with the Welsh average despite the difficulties of introducing the new courses. I would like to extend my congratulations to both students and staff on their achievements."

"These statistics, as in previous years, are based only on the WJEC examination board results," explained a spokesman for the county council.

"More information will be forthcoming in due course from other examination boards and, from analysis of student progress since GCSE."

The director of education and community services will present a detailed report to the education committee in the autumn term.

In Whitland, meanwhile, headmaster of Ysgol Gyfun Dyffryn Taf, Dr. Keith Davies, was "absolutely delighted" with the outstanding results received by the students at the school.

"All the pupils have done really well and, although we are still working on the final figures, it looks as if we could have our best results ever," he commented when contacted by the Observer yesterday morning.

"We have had a fair number of A grades, and four students gained three straight As, including our head boy Will James and head girl Angharad Lewis, who were absolutely over the moon with their results. They will now be taking up places at Oxford and Cambridge.

"We also had six students who picked up two As and a B.

"We are still working out the new AS Level results, but overall the results for both levels look really first class, and I would like to congratulate everyone on their achievements," he added.