A-level results: Didcot, Wantage, Wallingford

3:37pm Thursday 14th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

OXFORDSHIRE proved it is home to plenty of bright sparks as students today achieved some of the highest A-Level results in the country.

Celebrations were in full swing at Didcot Sixth Form after students achieved a 99 per cent overall pass rate.

Thirteen students achieved at least three grade As including 18-year-old Zhenzhen Ma who gained A grades in chemistry, English literature, mathematics, further mathematics, music and physics. She is due to go on to study natural sciences at Cambridge.

Also off to Cambridge will be national weightlifting champion and potential 2012 Olympic competitor Peter Dutton.

Peter, 18, achieved A grades in mathematics, further mathematics and physics.

Chris Bryan, headteacher at St Birinus, said: "We have had a fantastic group of students in the sixth form. They have not only worked hard but also involved themselves in sport, drama, music and community service.

"We had high aspirations for them and many exceeded our expectations."

At King Alfred's in Wantage, assistant principal John Gale was equally proud of his students.

He said: "These results are the icing on the cake. More than half our students have gained grades A or B and nearly 80 per cent received the top three grades."

Twelve students gained three or more grade As including Robert Bowles, from Wantage, who finished second in the junior elite race at the Mazda London Triathlon on Sunday. He will go on to combine his sport and his studies at Loughborough University where he is due to read international business.

At Wallingford School, 99 per cent of students achieved grades A to E with 80 per cent gaining A to C grades.

Results from across the county showed 48 per cent of students achieved A or B grades, equalling last year's results. Overall pass rates (grades A to E) are set to be up on last year at almost 98 per cent.

Councillor Michael Waine, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for schools, said: "This is all about celebrating some fantastic achievements and congratulating our young people on the rewards they have reaped for some very hard work."