Westwood pupils (l to r) Monsura Ahmed,Amy Mitchell, Tom Ingram, Sara West and Jamie Biggs celebrate.NEW records were set and firsts achieved as students across south Wiltshire and the New Forest celebrated their A-level results.

For the first time ever, every pupil passed every subject at Salisbury's Bishop Wordsworth's School, and 93 per cent achieved A-C grades, which is the best result yet.

Over three-quarters of papers were given A or B grades and the majority of pupils left school with more than three A-levels - to the delight of headteacher Dr Stuart Smallwood.

"This is an absolutely cracking set of results and one that all the boys and their teachers have worked extremely hard to achieve," he said.

The largest-ever sixth form at South Wilts also had a record-breaking year, with 68 per cent of pupils getting A and B grades and a pass rate of 99.7 per cent.

Fifteen students achieved four A-grades, and Briony Sheldon, in art and design, Louise Sheldon, in design and technology product design, and Rose Marteau, in English literature, received among the top five marks in the country.

"It is a real pleasure to see so many happy students - the tears on results day are for joy," said headteacher Frances Stratton.

"These excellent results are a real credit to all the hard work of students and staff and the support of parents and friends."

There was also joy for former South Wilts pupil Sophie Ibbotson, who gained five A-grades at Peter Symond's College, in Winchester.

Sophie, from Broad Chalke, will be going to Clare College Cambridge, to read Oriental studies with Hindi.

Pupils at Westwood St Thomas sixth form continue to make steady progress in their A-levels.

"All the hard work of both staff and students has been rewarded with yet another good set of A & AS level results," said head of sixth form Gillian Walmsley. "Both the overall pass rate and average points scores have increased from last year."

Education and success on results day are not only for the young, as many of South Wiltshire's mature students proved. At Salisbury College, 124 people over the age of 25 passed one or more A or A/S level including a 76-year-old who gained an A grade in modern languages.

"This year's grades highlight the fact that effective teaching and learning is still the number one priority at the college" said head of department for general education, Steve Fear.

The girls from the Godolphin School continued their tradition of impressive A-level results. Students achieved a 46.2 per cent straight-A pass rate, a 78.1 per cent A-B pass rate and a 100 per cent A-E pass rate.

Exceptional performances came from Karen Ho, who was awarded five straight As and will be going to Merton College, Oxford, to study physics, Harriet Booker, who scooped four As and is off to Trinity College, Cambridge, to study natural science, and Natalia Roszkowski, who achieved four A grades and will be going to Corpus Christi, Oxford, to study medicine.

Director of studies at Godolphin, Russell Freeman said: "The results reflect the hard work, energy and enthusiasm of everyone at the school, but, most of all, the girls themselves."

Over a third of students at Cricklade College in Andover travel there from Salisbury and they have had another successful year, with a 97 per cent pass rate - which is the best yet.

"I applaud our students, parents and lecturers and those who contributed to make this year such a successful one," said principal Dr Tom Johnson.

"The most pronounced upward trends have been in traditional subjects such as chemistry and English and some subjects have maintained a 100 per cent pass rate over many years."

After a record-breaking year in 2003, pupils at the Burgate School had another fine set of results.

Top of the class were Katrina Black, who has achieved five grade As and one B at A-level during her sixth-form career, and Anna Chapman, who was awarded four A grades.

Deputy headteacher Ian Kirby said: "Our students received an average of 360 points, which is almost as good as last year, when we were the seventh-best comprehensive in the country in the league tables.

"The AS results are very good, too, and we are very pleased for our students."

Ringwood School had its best-ever year, with a 99.4 per cent pass rate and half the exam papers winning A and B grades.

A dozen students received three or more A-grades and the majority of students are off to universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

"These pleasing results reflect two years of sustained efforts by the students, who are fortunate to have such a very dedicated set of teachers," said a delighted chairman of governors Canon John Turpin.

Records were also broken at Brockenhurst College, where the 96.5 per cent pass rate was the best ever, and 69.5 per cent of papers were awarded A-C grades.

Among the record 29 students who achieved three or more A grades were Catherine Bacon, of Fordingbridge, and Daniel Beale, of Ringwood, who is off to Bournemouth University to study maths with computer science.

College principal Mike Snell said hard work was the reason for better pass rates and higher grades.

"Exams are certainly no easier - students are working harder and the quality of teaching and learning is improving all the time," he said.

There are also smiles all round at Totton College, which had a 95.6 per cent pass rate, with 60 per cent of students achieving A-C grades.

"Twenty-three subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate, which is our best performance yet," said principal Mark Bramwell.

"The staff and students certainly pulled out all the stops this year."