Two years of hard work and dedication have paid off for the hundreds of sixth form students at Hardenhuish and Sheldon Schools who collected their A Level results today. At Hardenhuish, 64.7 per cent of grades awarded to students were at grade A and B with an outstanding 100 per cent pass rate.

Deputy Headteacher Jan Hatherall said: “These are our best ever A level results.

“Our average UCAS points at the school is 351.36 which is up by 15 points on last years, which is again just a stunning performance.

“We are a full comprehensive school where everybody has access to the sixth form so this is an extraordinary performance considering.

“Most of our students are going off to university and some of them are taking gap years for which they have programmes planned. They have been an absolutely fantastic year group and have taken an active role in the school by getting the Green Project on the ground.

“I will miss them terribly - I have taught some of them and they have been lovely all the way through.

“They are a credit to the school.”

Student Ollie Harris achieved three A grades in Drama, Psychology and History.

He said: “Sixth form has been great fun and these results are just the icing on the cake. I have worked really hard, but I’ve had fun too.

“I was predicted to get these grades, but my History grade was a bit touch and go. We are all off to Swindon to celebrate.”

Lucy Horton received A grades in Psychology, Maths and Biology and an A at AS level in Further Maths.

She said: “I was really nervous about getting my results, but I’m really pleased. I am going to university in Southampton and I’m really looking forward to it.”

At Sheldon School, students achieved a pass rate of over 99 per cent, with 50 per cent of all grades either A or B.

Head of Sixth Form Michael Seeley said: “This year group has done outstandingly well to achieve these excellent grades given that they spent the first year of their studies without our wonderful new learning and study facilities.

“There is a real squeeze on university places this year, so I was very pleased that the vast majority of students achieved the grades they needed for their first choice course.”

Headteacher Gerard MacMahon added: “We are extremely pleased with these results and proud of the efforts of students and teachers in achieving them.

“It has been great to see so many happy students who have achieved the grades they needed for university.

“Sheldon will again be towards the top of the national achievement tables.”

High-flying Layli Foroudi achieved five A grades in English, French, Maths, Art and General Studies.

She said: “I wasn’t expecting at all - I was really quite shocked. I am going to take a gap year and I will spend the first half of the year in France to do volunteering work then I will be heading to UCL to study French and Russian.”