STUDENTS at Minehead's West Somerset Community College have had another record-breaking batch of A-Level results, beating the national pass rate by one per cent.

A total of 99 per cent of students achieved grades A*-E, well ahead of the national pass rate of 98 per cent.

Ten per cent of all exam passes were at the highest A* level, an increase of three per cent on the previous year, while 82 per cent were at grades A* to C.

Staff said the results were a credit to both students and teachers and described the grades as "exceptional".

The top performing community college student was Alex Howes with an incredible four A* passes to secure a place at Cambridge University.

Robin Lewis gained three A grades and one B grade, while Agatha Gawlowska gained three A grades.

Students Megan Rose, Vicky Tarr, Georgina Rayson, Kim Sharpe and Faye Woolley all achieved the equivalent of three A* grades in their specialist vocational courses.

Other high achievers were George Griffin, Joseph James, Nick Limb, Jack Page, Sherilyn Perkins, Andrew Pope, Georgina Rayson, Beth Rogers and Emilie Smith.

Marguerite Bowden, assistant principal post 16 and vocational education, said: "I am delighted with the performance of our students this year.

"The standards achieved are again exceptional in a year where exam boards have applied even more stringent grading procedures.

"It has also been a great year for student destinations, with virtually all year 13 students progressing to higher education or employment; I wish all our students the very best for the future."

Former college principal Nick Swann, who retired at the end of the summer term, said he too was pleased with the results.

He said: "A good number of students achieved above their target grades on A-Level and BTEC courses. Many really excelled.

"This reflects the massive amount of hard work from these and all the other students who have done so well, together with high levels of skills and dedication from their teachers."

Nationally, it was the 30th year the pass rate had increased, although the proportion of passes at A or A* fell for the first time in two decades.

While girls continued to outperform boys for getting A grades, boys also beat girls for the highest overall A* grades, with 8 per cent achieving the top mark, compared with 7.9 per cent of girls.

Photo: Steve Guscott