Students across Monmouthshire are celebrating a record breaking set of A-level results, with the pass rate rising by nearly four percentage points to 99.1% compared to 95.44% last year.

That figure is nearly two percentage points higher than the national pass rate.

The rising pass rate also saw a record number of students (28%) achieving the highest grades of A*-A, a 10% increase on last year and comparing favourably with the national rate of 22.7%.

Across Monmouthshire there has been a further increase in the number of students achieving the Level 3 threshold (of two A levels grades A-E) to 99.7%, an increase of 1.3% from last year. In three of the county’s four secondary schools the level 3 threshold was achieved by 100% of students.

Councillor Liz Hacket Pain, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for education said, “I am absolutely thrilled – these fantastic results are a real indicator of how hard the students and teachers have worked over the last two years. I also want to recognise the support that our students receive from their parents and carers. Across all of our schools we have seen improvements and children excelling at the highest levels. This will give them great confidence as they start the next stages of their lives, be that in education or work.”

Sarah McGuinness, Chief Officer for Children and Young People added, “I am delighted at what our four schools have achieved. Monmouthshire’s results compare favourably with national outcomes and I know that our schools will be very pleased with this. Our students can look to the future, well-equipped to achieve their full potential.”

Students looking for advice, no matter what their results, are encouraged to visit the Careers Wales website on careerswalescom/