LIVE: The A Level results are in...
West Berkshire pupils are receiving their A Level results today (Thursday) following an anxious wait
THE wait is finally over for hundreds of pupils across West Berkshire today (Thursday).
The A Level exam results are starting to pour in, and Newburytoday.co.uk reporters are out and about at the district's schools to capture the emotions of the day, with the latest results and reaction published below as they come in.
The competition for University places is even greater this year, with a significant reduction in the number of people taking a gap year, owing to the rise in tuition fees that will come in next year.
However, UCAS has confirmed that a record number of applicants have this year been accepted into university or college, with 384,649 pupils gaining places, as of midnight, compared with 379,411 last year.
The rush in traffic for results has, however, caused the UCAS track website to crash this morning.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), Russell Hobby, has today praised pupils across the country for their results in the wake of national uncertainty following the recent riots.
He said the impressive results reflected the real story of the nation's schools - that pupils and teachers were working harder than ever and achieving more.
1pm - John O'Gaunt Community Technology College, Hungerford:
Pupils were celebrating after the school recorded its best ever A level results.
For the first time in its history, 100 per cent of the pupils passed at A2 (Year 13), with 24 per cent achieving grades A and A*.
Among them was 19-year-old Connie Tuttle, who gained two A* and two A grades, plus a distinction in Btec forensic science - a two-year course which she completed in just one year.
She is now off to Cambridge University, where she will be studying politics, psychology and sociology.
Also celebrating was 18-year-old Alice Arnold, who achieved an A and two Bs.
12.10pm - Kennet School, Thatcham achieved a 100 per cent overall pass rate.
The percentage of grades at A* to C was 82 per cent and the percentage of grades at A*, A and B was 61 per cent.
Headteacher at the Stoney Lane school, Paul Dick, said: “Congratulations go to all pupils for their achievements.”
David Clark, who achieved 4 A*s in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry is going on to study chemical engineering at Imperial College London.
He said: “I was ecstatic when I opened my results. I had a few tears in my eyes.”
12.00pm - Trinity School, Shaw, achieved an overall pass rate of 97 per cent and 46 per cent of pupils achieved A* to B grades.
Headteacher at the Love Lane school, Charlotte Wilson, said: “All our students who applied to university have won places on degree courses.
“The staff are proud of all the students' achievements and the hard work and efforts they have applied to their studies.
“We know that they will continue to go from strength to strength and build on these fantastic successes.”
11.45am - THE headteacher of Denefield School, Tilehurst, Glyn Whiteford said the school was very pleased with the A Level results which showed "sustained improvement".
The percentage of grades at A* - B is 34 per cent, maintaining our success from last year, with 12 per cent of the students achieving A or A* grades, which is an improvement on last year.
The average point score per entry was 197.
"Our students receive excellent academic guidance on results day from Sixth Form staff and we are really proud that the majority of our students have gained places at their first choice university," Mr Whiteford said.
"I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank both the staff and students for their hard work in making these results possible.
"We will be continuing to build on these improvements over the course of the next academic year."
11.10am - A 99.7 per cent pass rate was achieved at The Downs School in Compton this year.
Ninety-three pupils sat A2 exams this year, with more than 64 per cent achieving A and B grades.
Headteacher, Val Houldey, said: "The sixth form has grown considerably over the past two years and it is encouraging to see that even with bigger numbers, we are keeping up excellent levels of attainment."
10.55am - Little Heath School in Tilehurst is celebrating a 98 per cent pass rate.
Seventy-two per cent of passes were between A* and C, with Lewis Church, Reece Booth, Kaley Addo and Hayley Cleaver among the top individual performers.
Headteacher, David Ramsden, said the results continued the school's tradition of outstanding value-added achievement.
He said: "182 students took their A Levels at Little Heath in 2011, compared to 94 as recently as in 2004.
"We have done everything in our power to encourage young people to stay in education to increase their life chances and life choices and we are delighted with these results. "Many students have made significant progress in Year 13 improving on their performance at AS in 2010."
10.25am - St Gabriel's School students will be making the most of their summer holidays before leaving to study a wide range of courses at university, including archaeology, medicine and radiography.
The percentage of students receiving A* to B was 80 per cent with several stand out performers, including Jess Keast of Brimpton who gained an A*, two As and two Bs, Amelia Richardson of Newbury who achieved two A*s and an A and Letitia Rizan of Burghfield Common who gained three A grades.
Principal Alun Jones said: “The girls are guided to study a mix of highly academic subjects that enable access to the finest universities in the country. They have given much to the school community and move on with great confidence. We are thrilled for them all.”
10.15am - Like Park House, St Bartholomew's School also achieved an overall pass rate of 99 percent, much to the delight of Headteacher Christina Haddrell.
The Newbury school had six successful Oxbridge students, and six successful with medicine or dentistry applications.
The percentage of students receiving A* to C grades was 80 percent, with 57 percent gaining A* to B.
Headteacher Mrs Haddrell said: “The results are absolutely excellent. We're really delighted, especially in such a busy year when we've moved to a new building.
“The results reflect the tremendous hard work and commitment of the students and staff and the support from parents.”
Year 12 students also achieved the school's best ever AS results with 65 percent of pupils gaining A to C grades.
09.55am - THEALE Green school in Theale is celebrating a 100 per cent pass rate with 73 per cent of A Levels achieved from grades A* to C.
Headteacher Sue Marshall said: "This reflects a great deal of hard work on the part of students and staff and I would like to thank them all for their contribution to the school.
Amongst the top students at the school were Michael Gallagher, who achieved one A* and two A grades, and he will be going to Bristol University to study mechanical engineering, and Natalie Williams, who achieved one A* and two A grades. She will now study law at Warwick university.
James Ireland achieved three A grades and will now study theatre at Royal Holloway, and Charlotte Stroud achieved four A-grades, and is now heading to Basingstoke university to study an art foundation course.
09.45am - Park House School is celebrating record-breaking A Level results this year.
The Newbury school has an overall pass rate of 99 per cent, with 85 per cent of passes at grades A* - C.
There were outstanding individual performances from Emma Chambers, who achieved five A* grades and one A grade, Kay Douglass, who achieved four A* grades and an A, and Matthew Dickson, who achieved three A* grades, two A grades and a B.
Several other pupils also achieved a number of A* grades.
Headteacher Derek Peaple said: "We are absolutely delighted by this year's record-breaking results, reflecting the outstanding talent, work and commitment of our Sixth Form students. They are very special. Our students thoroughly deserve their successes and all are to be congratulated on their quite exceptional achievements. We are very proud of them all."
09.10am - Eight pupils at The Willink School in Burghfield Common are celebrating after achieving straight A grades.
Fifty-nine per cent of pupils have achieved A* - B grades, while seven per cent of the school's pupils have achieved A* grades.
Headteacher, Peter Fry, said: "Those who have worked hard have really deserved their excellent grades."
