Students and staff at King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny have been rewarded for their hard work and dedication with outstanding A Level results this year.

The results represent a significant step up from previous years.

Thirty-five percent of all grades were at A*/A with over 10% of the year group achieving three or more A*/A.

More than 60% of students achieved three or more A* - C grades and 98% percent of all students achieved the L3 threshold (achieving two or more A Level passes).

Headteacher Mrs Elspeth Lewis said, “For the first time many of our KHS students completed the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification and it is exciting to report that 73% of passes were at grades A* and A.”

Individual successes include:

Ffion James - younger sister of double Olympic medal winner Becky James - who achieved four A* grades and has secured a place at Girton College, Cambridge to study Natural Sciences (physics).

Angharad Clarke, Louise Morgan, Eleanor Newsam and Frances Smith who all achieved four grades at A*/A.

Bethan Gilson, Ieuan Greaves and Owain Powell who all achieved three grades at A*/A.

A significant number of pupils have also gained entrance scholarships to universities, including:

Kate Baldock who secured the Evan Morgan scholarship award (Aberystwyth University) for outstanding performance and was given an unconditional offer. She will receive an additional grant of £1,000 per year and guaranteed accommodation on campus for the duration of her degree.

Sam Collier and Ollie Davies who were made Merit scholars (Aberystwyth University) and secured unconditional offers and a grant of £1,000.

Ritchie Grainger, Alys Pugh, Sophie Tetley, Matthew Jones and Holly Parker who all received unconditional offers.

Year 13 students will now embark on their chosen courses with many going on to Sutton Trust 30 universities.

Courses to be followed include a wide range of subjects such as art, child development, computing, drama, engineering, English, events management, humanities, mathematics, nursing and midwifery, media and film studies, psychology, product design, sciences, social sciences, sport studies and gateway courses for medicine and veterinary medicine.

“The current Year 12 have laid a solid foundation for future success with their promising AS results,” said Mrs Lewis. “It is pleasing to note the high number of students attaining A-C grades; with James Aurelius, Rhys Gilson, Sol Klappholz, Francesco Larcher and Michael Neville all achieving three or more top A grades.

“We wish to congratulate all our students and wish them well as they embark on the next stage of their learning.”