STUDENTS from Ely schools celebrated record A Level success today (Thursday), with many students achieving the new A* grade. Four students at the City of Ely Community College were awarded an A* while the college slashed previous records with around 64 per cent of grades at A*-C, beating the 58.5 per cent figure from 2005.

STUDENTS from Ely schools celebrated record A Level success today (Thursday), with many students achieving the new A* grade.

Four students at the City of Ely Community College were awarded an A* while the college slashed previous records with around 64 per cent of grades at A*-C, beating the 58.5 per cent figure from 2005.

Mark Sirot-Smith, director of 6th Form at the college said: “There are the best results we’ve ever had. It’s been a tough year for our students especially as they lost two of their peers in car crashes. I think that the tragedy has galvanised them to get their heads down.

“We are truly proud of these young people, and my staff and I wish them all the very best as they build on these qualifications in higher education or in the workplace.”

At King’s School one in nine students achieved straight A* or A grades, with 89 per cent of results graded A*-C and an overall pass rate of 98 per cent.

Headteacher Sue Freestone said: “These results bear testimony to the hard work and commitment of the young people concerned and the staff who have taught them.”

National figures show that girls got more A* grades overall than boys (8.3 per cent compared with 7.9 per cent), but boys got more A* grades in science and maths-based subjects. To win an A* a student has to score an A overall, plus at least 90 per cent in each of their papers in the second year of their course.