Across the district, students have today (Thursday) been finding out whether they made the grade and achieved the A-level results they need to progress. Here we round-up how our schools fared, as the results are revealed:

Abbey College

Abbey College students repeated last year’s 100 per cent overall pass rate but the numbers achieving A* to C slipped from 68 per cent to 63 per cent.

High flyers include Heather Clark, who gained two A*s and one A and will be continuing her studies in maths at Warwick University, and Toby Dewar, who achieved three As and will be studying economics at Sheffield University.

Others are Helen Timmins, who gained two As and one B, and head girl, Jen Hickman, who landed one A and two Bs.

Head of sixth form, Heather Paul, said: “This is an amazing achievement for both students and staff.

“Standards of achievement at Abbey College sixth form remain high and continue to improve for the top end grades, reflecting the outstanding teaching which takes place here.

“All of the Year 13 students should be congratulated on their effort and determination during the last two years and we wish them every success for their next challenge.”

Sawtry

The pass rate at A* to C for students at Sawtry Community College has increased year on year.

Their percentage of top grades (68 per cent) increased from 66 per cent in 2013, with a quarter of all exam takers achieving A*s or As.

Deputy principal Simon Parsons said: “We congratulate everyone involved in achieving these results. We are confident that they will enable our students to progress to university or employment as planned.

“We wish the students every success in whatever they do next.”

Top marks were achieved by Nina Palmer, Nikita Mistry, Victoria Hart, Dominic Nessbach and Edward Wong who achieved at least three A*s or As.

Ernulf

There were fewer top grades at Ernulf Academy where results were down on last year.

Students achieving A* to Cs fell from 54 to 47 per cent, while the overall pass rate dipped to 92 per cent compared with 100 per cent in 2013.

Headteacher Scott Preston said most of the students started their sixth form studies with low GCSE grades, meaning that they have had to work especially hard.

He said: “Given the starting points of many of the students, we knew that the results in pure terms would not be as high as last year. “However, our students have worked really hard and have managed to fulfil or exceed our expectations.

“For many students these results demonstrate excellent progress from their starting point on entering the academy.

“Early indications are that most of the students who want to go on to university will be able to access their first or second choice.”

Despite the drop in performance, the average grade improved to a C- from a D last year.

Mr Preston said students did particularly well in the media course, 86 per cent achieving at least a C.

There were also good results for sports students: five completed a double award for the first time and all of them received at least two distinctions, with Laura Dawson achieving a double starred distinction.

Hinchingbrooke

Two Hinchingbrooke students achieved four A*s as almost half of the sixth form got A*-B grades.

The school’s A*-C rate fell very slightly from 78 per cent last year to 77 per cent this year, but 48 per cent of students managed A*-B grades in this year’s exams.

There was also a slight fall in the overall pass rate, dropping to 98.3 per cent from 99.7 per cent last year.

The plaudits went to Kamal Sayes and Sally Barker who got the school’s best results and will both be studying medicine.

Kimbolton

There was another impressive set of results for students at Kimbolton School, where 41 per cent of all grades were either A* or A.

Out of the 83 sixth-formers, more than one in five gained at least three A* or As.

Among the top performers was Cameron Horn from Eaton Ford who achieved three A*s and an A and will now be studying dentistry at the University of Birmingham.

Tomas Guilliatt-Griggs, of Abbots Ripton, has had his place to read history at Girton College, Cambridge, confirmed after gaining three A*s.

Holly Gregory and Mary Holyoak (both Kimbolton), Caroline Kelley (Grafham), Tom Orme (Great Stukeley), Ollie Wigley (St Neots) and Harry Wilkinson (Hilton) all achieved at least two A*s and one A.

Other high achievers were Rory Beet (Little Staughton), Tim Brazel (Riseley), Lize-Ann Engelbrecht (Holywell), Rachel Pask (Fenstanton) and Joe Williams (Grafham).

Headmaster Jonathan Belbin said: “These excellent results reflect the hard work of our students and staff over the last two years and mean that the vast majority of our sixth formers will be moving on to their university of choice.

“I am delighted that they have all also demonstrated talents in at least one other field beyond academia, be it sporting, musical, on the stage or in another of our many extra-curricular activities.”

Longsands

Sixth formers at Longsands outperformed the class of 2013 by achieving a 70 per cent A* to C pass rate, up by three per cent on last year.

Outstanding individual achievements included Jack Rogers’ A* grades in chemistry, maths, further maths and physics, while 31 students achieved at least two A* and A grades, the honours being equally divided between boys and girls. Four girls and three boys each achieved top grades.

Subjects students were particularly successful in included graphics, photography, French, law, maths, further maths, media, government and politics and sociology, all of which saw A* to Cs in excess of 80 per cent.

Success was enjoyed by students who did the Btec Advanced Diploma courses in business and sport. Everyone passed and the majority achieved distinctions.

Longsands headteacher Rick Carroll said: “We congratulate our students on their success and wish them well in their future work and study.

“Some aspects of last year’s A-level results were disappointing and it is a testament to the hard work, motivation and commitment of our students and the strong support of parents and teachers working together to achieving our goals that we have risen to the challenge and we are confident of further success in the future.”

St Ivo

Early indications are the St Ivo students have particular reason to celebrate.

They achieved 78 per cent A* to Cs, down just one per cent on 2013, and 21 per cent A* to As.

Assistant headteacher Andy Davies said the results were in top three of his 20-plus years at the school.

“We are really pleased as we have had some fantastic results for individual students,” he said.

“Compared with the last year’s we are at a similar level.

“There have been some terrific results in departments like maths and physics which are traditionally hard to get.”

Headteacher Mark Patterson added: “I am delighted with our students’ A-level results. St Ivo students perform strongly at A-level year on year and 2014 is no exception.

“In fact, the 2014 A* to C percentage, 78 per cent, matches our second best ever performance as a school and is only one per cent below our best ever performance.

“On behalf of all of the staff at the school, and the governors, I would like to congratulate our students on their achievements, which are the result of much hard work and dedication, and I would like to thank the staff at the school, who have once again shown their willingness to go the extra mile for the young people with whom we work.

“Our very best wishes to St Ivo class of 2014 for a bright and successful future!”

St Peter’s School

At least two thirds of St Peter’s students will be heading to university after this year’s A-levels.

The school achieved a 62 per cent A*-C rate, down from last year’s 71 per cent, but departing headteacher Val Ford said this reflects the Government decision to downgrade the assessment of vocational A-level qualifications, which are very strong at St Peter’s.

Mrs Ford also said that 35 per cent of students achieved A*-Bs and a fifth of all grades were A*-As. Seventeen departments managed 100 per cent pass rates, contributing to the school’s 96 per cent overall pass rate.

“In light of the continued change that league tables and measuring performance are experiencing, we are very pleased and encouraged by these results and congratulate the students on their successes and the hard work, determination and endeavour involved,” Mrs Ford said.

The remaining third of students have secured apprenticeships, foundation courses and employment.

Abbey College to come