Arundel students celebrate their A Level results

Arundel sixth formers today revelled in their A-level results with more than ever achieving pass grades.

At nearby Worthing College and The Regis School, where most Arundel sixth formers study, pass rates were record breaking. Nationally pass rates are up 0.2%.

Their successes come at a particularly fraught time for pupils – and their parents – as those who are not accepted by a university this year face the daunting prospect of paying up to £9,000 a year to attend university from 2012.

Principal of Worthing College, Peter Corrigan, today said: 'These results are just rewards for the continued hard work, dedication and effort of young people and staff at Worthing College and reflect the quality of teaching and learning we offer. We wish our students every success in their future at university or in the world of work.'

Some sixth formers had a stressful time accessing their results online this morning when the UCAS website crashed under the weight of numbers of pupils trying to find out their grades. Many students, including those from Arundel, find out their results online at home after 9am on results day then attend their schools and colleges later in the morning to celebrate or seek advice from teachers and friends.

At Worthing College, the A-level pass rate was 97.1 % with 40.4% higher grades (A*-B) and 65.8% (A*-C) being awarded. Nineteen A-level subjects achieved a 100% pass rate. Some 55 students achieved at least one A* grade at A-level. Sixty students achieved three or four A-grades or equivalent at A-level or Advanced BTEC Diplomas.

The AS pass rate was 85.8% with 29.8% high grades (A-B) and 51.9% (A-C) being awarded.

The pass rate for Applied A level Double Award was 100% and 95.7% for the Single Award. The pass rate for the Applied AS Double Award was 100% and 87.1% for the Single Award.

The pass rate for BTEC Advanced Diplomas was 93.5% with 71% high grades achieved. The pass rate for BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas was 88.2% with 50.6% high grades achieved. The pass rate for BTEC Level 2 Diplomas was 85.5% with 51.3% high grades achieved.

The Regis School, formerly Bognor Regis Community College, posted a four per cent increase in the pass rate and an increase in the number of those achieving A-C grades.

Nationally, A-level entries for maths, biology, chemistry and physics have risen compared to last year and boys have narrowed the gap with girls in maths and science. Many students are shunning so-called 'soft' subjects to study traditional subjects demanded by universities and employers.

Universities minister – and south coast MP David Willetts has said that those who study traditional subjects should be given first choice of their pick of universities despite the fact UCAS treats every subject equally in terms of points awarded for each grade.

Nationally, the A-level pass rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points to 97.8%, but the proportion achieving A grades has remained the same as last year at 27%.