PRESTATYN High School's 2008 A-Level results took on an Olympic flavour.

Medal-worthy performances were being celebrated with 90 students achieving success at advanced level in 25 different subjects with 58 per cent of the grades in the top A-C range.

A further 40 pupils passed one year BTEC courses at Diploma or Certificate level, accompanied by a large number of students celebrating AS level success at the end of their first sixth form year.

Prestatyn High School Headteacher Phil Pierce was full of praise for the Olympian efforts of pupils.

"I am so pelased that teh efforts of our students have again been recognised.

"As with the Olympics, success comes from hard craft, excellent coaching and support from family and friends.

That is something we can always guarantee at Prestatyn High whatever the potential of the student."

Topping the medals table was Stephanie Sparkes who gained an A in Geography, A in Religious Studies and B in History.

Charles Taylor achieved an A in Maths, B in Geography, B in Computing and B in Business, while Laura Hodgkinson achieved an A in Psychology, B in Geography and B in Art.

Mr Pierce added: "Our open-entry policy means everyone has a chance to achieve and this year we have seen large numbers getting the grades they need to progress to higher education.

"It is not always about top grades though as beating your personal best is what all competitors strive for.

"That has happened a lot this year so congratulations must go to everyone."


STUDENTS and staff at Ysgol Glan Clwyd were celebrating another year of A-level success.

The main indicators were, once again, above both local and national averages and also reveal success in a wide range of relevant academic and vocational courses at AS and A2 level.

One hundred per cent of students achieved Grades A-E, with 83 per cent achieving A - C Grades, 61 per cent A - B and 36 per cent A grades.

Top achievers included 10 achieving three A Grades and 78 per cent gaining two or more A - C grades.

Ysgol Glan Clwyd headteacher Meurig Rees said: "Almost all students have obtained the grades or points score required for them to enter the university of their choice - they have attained their personal, and often challenging targets.

"The others will be certain of university places also.

"Students and staff deserve praise for their hard work and dedicated efforts. It is pleasing to note that these young people have succeeded academically as well as making a full and valuable contribution to school life.

"We wish them well as they take the next step in their careers, and know that parents, who have given valuable support to their children and the school over the years, are rightly proud of their childrens' success.

"We are also pleased with the progress made by year 12 students in their AS courses.

"These results, and the excellent contribution made by the vast majority of students during year 12 towards the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification, augur well and are a very sound foundation for their full A level results next year."


THERE was plenty of reason to celebrate when the result envelopes were opened at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan.

Many students ended their time at the Abergele school by achieving leading A and B Grades, with the school delighted at the performances.

One of the main successes was Lisa Watson, who achieved three As and a B in her A-Levels and also obtained a B at AS-Level.

Rebecca Wood achieved three As, with the results of Lee Wright, Rachel Spedding, Amy Grimward and Annie Kilburn all including two As.

Daniel Snelson gained an A and two Bs, with Sarah Dinn rewarded for sitting several exams by collecting an A, B and two Cs in A-Levels and a C at AS Level.

Katie Bamber and Imogen Flack both managed three Bs, with the results of Kieran Hughes, Callum Jones, Rachel Britton, Jason Mutter and Samantha Stokes all including a B and Matthew Conlan gaining two Cs.

The AS-Levels saw 30 students obtain impressive results, as the school sees a continual improvement in its results.

School headteacher Nayland Southorn said: "These are excellent results which sustain the year-on-year improvement in our public examination performance. They are just reward for the hard work, skill and perseverance of so many of our students."

Mr Southorn thanked the staff for the standard of teaching and their dedication and the parents for giving "so much consistent support to their children".

Head of sixth form, Mike Williams, said: "I am delighted that the terrific efforts shown by this group of students have been rewarded in such a positive manner."


BLESSED Edward Jones Catholic High School celebrated a remarkable 92 per cent A-Level pass rate.

Headteacher Catherine Britton said: "This is testament to the terrific work that is going on here at Blessed Edward Jones.

One pupil, who achieved only two GCSE passes in year 11, and so would never have been allowed to take A levels in another institution, achieved an A and a B at A-level.

"Parents of children with potential should take note - if your child has the ability we will see to it that those top grades are achieved. We do this by ensuring personal attention to every learner.

"This is part of the small school ability to recognise talent and nurture it rather than work on raw data. We see people, not paperwork.

"We offer only a limited number of A level subjects here at Blessed Edward Jones but students who study with us are almost guaranteed to do well."


A-LEVEL results at Rhyl High School are being celebrated by pupils and staff.

The sixth form has been under the threat of closure, with the school looking at creating partnership agreements with other schools and colleges to preserve post-16 education at the site, but it enjoyed a successful set of A-Level Grades this year.

Ninety five per cent of students achieved A-Level examination Grades, with 40per cent of the results being at A-C.

The school was also pleased to see 10per cent of the results be at the highest grade of A.

One of the outstanding achievements came from Katherine Lee, who
achieved three As in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Headteacher Mark Edwards was delighted with the results obtained by Katherine and the other students, with many now preparing to study at university.

He said: "The governors and staff of Rhyl High School want to thank all of our students for their hard work this year and wish them well for their futures.

"We are very confident that the vast majority who applied for university will get on to courses of their choice this year."


THE region enjoyed success stories in A-Level and AS-Level exams at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru.

There was a 100per cent pass rate in 30 subjects, with the overall pass rate being more than 95per cent for the third year in succession.

All of the near 400 A-Level and AS-Level students took the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification, with the pass rate considerably above the national average.

Jess Flavell achieved two As, a B and a C in her A-Levels as she prepares to study Biomedical Science at Manchester University. Her friend and fellow Abergele resident, Gemma Gagon, will study Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University after sitting A-Levels in Sociology, Psychology and Photography.

Mature student Diane Highton, from Prestatyn, who works for GFK National Opinion Polls, was "ecstatic" at gaining a B grade for her A-Level in English Literature. She is now looking to teach at a further education college.

Close friends Anna Hughes, from Rhuddlan, and Sioned Owen, from Bodelwyddan, ended up with identical results. They both achieved a double A grade in their Advanced Applied Art and Design and B grades in their Photography and Textiles AS-Levels. Both will continue to study at the college next year.

Emma Gilmartin, from Abergele, and Kimberley Kelly, from Prestatyn, both achieved three B grades at A-Level and the Welsh Baccalaureate.
Emma will now study Biology at Sheffield University and Kimberley hopes to study teaching at university in Liverpool.

Huw Evans, principal at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, said: "Coleg Llandrillo Cymru is again pleased to report results which are outstanding and a credit to both students and staff at the college.

"Year on year the college has demonstrated consistent improvements in line with national statistics from a very large cohort of A and AS level students."