RELIEF and delight filled their faces today as Suffolk's students celebrated A-level success. As two years of hard slog came to an end for a quarter of a million students across the UK, Suffolk schools once again reported record results.

RELIEF and delight filled their faces today as Suffolk's students celebrated A-level success.

As two years of hard slog came to an end for a quarter of a million students across the UK, Suffolk schools once again reported record results.

As teachers appealed to critics to allow pupils to enjoy their triumph without complaining about dumbing down, the county's education chiefs were among the first to congratulate Suffolk's students.

Cllr Patricia O'Brien, cabinet member with responsibility for children, schools and young people's services, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the students who have put in so much hard work to achieve these excellent results. We must also thank those teachers, parents and others who have supported the young people in their work.

She added: “I would also like to congratulate the young people who have studied hard for their vocational qualifications, and will be getting their results.

“It is so important that young people make the most of their potential. Gaining vocational qualifications are an important step in the pursuit of a chosen career.”

At Orwell High School, in Maidstone Road, Felixstowe, students were celebrating as the school recorded a 96pc pass rate.

Headteacher Peter Tomkins said: “Our 25 Year 13 A-level students had an excellent sixth form experience having all the advantages of a small sixth form whilst being able to access a wide range of courses via the Felixstowe sixth form. “As a school we are eager to offer as many students as possible the chance to succeed at A-level and offer places to all students who we believe will be successful at any level from A to E.

“We are proud of the success of all our students and are pleased that so many of them have earned the opportunity to continue their studies at university.

“They have been a hard working year group and we are particularly pleased that so many of them have done so much better than their GCSE results predicted.

“It shows that we were right to give the opportunity to some students despite their low GCSE grades.”

Mr Tomkins added: “It is great to be able to celebrate the success of the A' Level students today, but we also need to celebrate the success of students who are leaving the sixth form this summer with qualifications in vocational subjects such as engineering and childcare.”

Head of sixth form at Orwell High, Jenny Leeke, said: “We wish all of our students luck in the future and hope they will come back and let us know how they are getting on.”

At Westbourne High School, in Marlow Road, Ipswich, staff and students were celebrating a pass rate of 93pc.

Deputy headteacher Dave Thomas said: “We are absolutely delighted. Our pass rate has risen from 84pc last year to 93 pc this year. As far as we are concerned it is all down to the hard work of our pupils and staff, nothing more nothing less.”

The school was recently awarded specialist school status in PE and science.

Mr Thomas added: “Today's news is another fantastic boost for Westbourne.”

Pupils at Stowmarket High School were also celebrating after achieving a pass rate of 95pc, grades A-E. A total of 75 students took two or more A-levels or equivalent, averaging 206 UCAS points each.

Headteacher David Oliver said: “Raw statistics can in no way convey individual success stories and we look very closely at the value added to each student's education both in and out off the classroom.

“That said, in spite of being a weaker year overall, we are delighted with some individual performances at all levels. All students and staff are to be congratulated for their hard work.

“We are also delighted with our AS-level results for the lower sixth.”

At Northgate High School, in Sidegate lane, Ipswich, each of the sixth form's 236 students achieved the UCAS point equivalent of over three A grades.

Headteacher Neil Watts said the school's 99pc pass rate at grades A-E, a rise on last year's rate of 98pc, was a record breaking result for the school.

He added: “Suffolk's largest sixth form has continued its rich vein of success. More than 52pc of the grades awarded to students were at grades A or B reflecting the effort and preparation that both students and staff have made during the two year courses.

“These are an outstanding set of results continuing the very successful pattern of recent years and emphasing the strength of the Northgate sixth form.”

Nigel Burgoyne, deputy head of Kesgrave High School said: “A level results at Kesgrave High School hit a new record high with 49pc of passes at A and B grades and an average point score of 359.

“Students and staff are proud of those magnificent results.”

Records were also broken at Copleston High School, in Copleston Road, Ipswich.

The school achieved a pass rate of 97pc at grades A to E with the average UCAS points score equivalent to one A grade and two B grades.

Deputy headteacher Peter Freeman said 53 students gained the equivalent of three a grades and 83 students gained the equivalent of three grade Bs.

Mr Freeman added: “We are absolutely delighted. This year our students have again broken school records. We are bvery porud 40pc of our students have gained equivalent of three A grades.

“Of particular note are three students Katie Haystead, Iain Hanson and Max Rowe who all gained five A-levels at A or B grade.”

At Deben High School, in Garrison Lane, Felixstowe, head of sixth form John rawling hailed the school's 98pc pass rate as “brilliant”.

Students there achieved a 47 pass rate with grades A-B and 78pc pass rate at grades A-C.

Mr Rawling added: “This is brilliant news for the students. We are delighted with this years set of results. Staff and students have performed really well.”

Ann Rickwood, headteacher at Chantry High School, in Ipswich, said she was delighted with this year's results.

She added: “I am very pleased with this years set of results. We have a small cohort of students here and they performed as we expected.”

Dennis McGarry, headteacher at St Alban's Catholic High School, in Digby Road, Ipswich said the school's 68 candidates achieved a pass rate of 73pc at grades A-B.

He added: “This has been a very good year. Student have again improved on last year's results with 100pc pass rate from grades A-E and an average UCAS points score of 375.

“Students and staff have all worked extremely hard and I am grateful for all their efforts.”

At Farlingaye High School, in Woodbridge, students and staff celebrated a pass rate of 99pc at grades A-E, with the sixth form's 131 students achiveing an average UCAS points score of 367.

Headteacher Sue Hargadon said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have had another year of outstanding results. The average total point score remains very high and more than 20pc of students achieved at least two A grades.

“This is a real tribute to the hard work by a super group of students and the support they were given by their staff and parents.”

At Claydon High School, headteacher Beth Soule said initial analysis of the results showed pass rates had risen.

She said: “We have got a large number of subjects with 100pc pass rates.”

Karen Grimes, headteacher at Stowupland High School said the vast majority if subjects achieved 100pc pass rates.

She added: “Hard work on the part of staff and students has paid handsome dividends and we are delighted that so many students can now progress to their chosen Further and Higher education courses.”

At Suffolk College, in Rope Walk, Ipswich, 259 students took A-levels in 22 subjects. Staff and students were celebrating a pass rate of 91pc for grades A-E and 39pc pass rate at grades A-B.

Christine Walters, Dean of FE at Suffolk College said: "We are delighted with this years results and the high grade achievements represent the hard work of both the staff and students here at Suffolk College"

At fee-paying schools staff and students were also celebrating.

At Woodbridge School staff and students reported a pass rate of 100pc with 68pc at A and B grades.

Stephen Cole, headmaster, said: “At Woodbridge the proportion of grade A's is the highest in the School's 450 year old history.

In the traditional more difficult subjects of further mathematics, physics and foreign languages every pupil gained a top grade.

“Woodbridge is not a school that panders to dumbing down, and our young people have responded to real challenge with results that earn them places at top ranking universities.”

At the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, headmaster Howard Blackett said students had achieved a pass rate of 63pc at grades A-B.

He added: “This is a fantastic set of results for our upper sixth students and the second best ever the school has ever had.”

Students and staff were today celebrating at St Joseph's College, in Belstead Road, Ipswich.

Mrs Grant, college principal, said: “The pleasing achievements of the year group together with our recent outstanding inspection report have led to a most successful 150th anniversary year for St Joseph's College and we are convinced our students will go on to greater success in the future.”

And at Ipswich School students achieved 63.9pc of passes at grades A and B

Headmaster Ian Galbraith said: “I am very pleased with these results. The students who have achieved these excellent grades have also contributed a great deal to the sporting and cultural life of the school.

“They manage their time in an impressively mature way. It is particularly good to see our overseas students doing so well. Robert Stolt from Berlin and Gennady Kur'in from Yakutsk in Siberia, have been boarders here for just two years. Robert achieved an A grade and two B grades and Gennady achieved three B grades and a Merit in the Advanced Extension Award in History - remarkable results for students working in their second language.”

Seventeen students at the school achieved A grades in all the A level subjects they took. They were today named as John Bambridge, George Bethell, James Bush, Michelle Chan, Holly Crerar, Peter Hilton, Emily Ho, Tom Jones, Andrew Lam, Peter Lavelle, Laura Liu, Felicity Mayer, Hannah McFarland, David Messent, Simon Peatman, Ridgely Smith, and Adam Thew.

Elaine Purves, headmistress at Ipswich High School for Girls said almost 25pc of pupils achieved straight A grades and 10pc will be taking up Ox-bridge places.

She added: “Overall our pass rate remains exceptionally high at 98.5pc, with 71pc of passes at A and B grades.

“It is a real reflection of the hard work and determination that the girls have shown throughout their studies, the inspiration given by our teaching staff and support from their parents.

“We are extremely proud of our students' achievements and wish them every success for their future.”

Have you studied for A-levels this year? Are A-levels getting easier or are critics spoiling the day for students? What do you think of the success of the county's students? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk