VIDEO Months of hard work and dedication to study were today rewarded with record-breaking A-level results in Suffolk.

MONTHS of hard work and dedication to study were today rewarded with record-breaking A-level results in Suffolk.

A summer spent anxiously waiting for the all important brown envelopes finally came to an end amid scenes of jubilation and celebration at sixth forms across the county.

At Orwell High School in Felixstowe, students and teachers were celebrating a 97 per cent pass rate - the best set of results for five years.

Forty students sat a range of A-levels as part of the Felixstowe Sixth Form which covers Orwell and Deben High Schools.

In all, 35pc of A-level results were grades A and B. The average point score per A-level entry was 79 and the average points score per student was 271.

Outstanding students included Nicola Sharpe, who achieved four As, Ben Carpendale, who scored two As and two Bs, Susannah Gage and Rachel Jackson, who achieved an A, two Bs and a C, and Carey Hollingsworth, who received an A and two Bs.

Headteacher Peter Tomkins said: “These are great results and demonstrate the dedication of both students and teachers.

“I am sure all our students will join me in thanking their teachers for all their hard work and inspiration.

“We operate a very open access sixth form and allow any student who will benefit from A-level study into the sixth form. These students have achieved brilliantly well.

“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, Jenny Leeke, added: “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.”

Northgate High School, in Ipswich, broke records across the boards.

The 230 upper sixth students achieved an average of more than three A grades.

A record-breaking 29pc of all grades were As and 27pc were Bs, adding up to another best of 56pc of all results in the top two grade boundaries.

September will see the reopening of the sixth form centre after a £250,000 building project, which will feature a new IT study centre and larger common room.

Neil Watts, headteacher, paid tribute to the hard work of students and staff and expressed delight at the record breaking results. He said: “They are simply the best ever recorded by this high achieving institution. Well done to all concerned!”

After a difficult year, Copleston High School, in Ipswich, was celebrating a fine set of results.

The school suffered an arson attack days before term was due to start last September, but despite the disruption, Copleston saw an increase in the average points score per student from last year.

In all, 61 students out of a cohort of 136 students scored the equivalent of at least three grade As. More than half scored the equivalent of at least three grade Bs.

David East, deputy headteacher, said: “We had some extremely pleasing individual performances with some students gaining four grade As.

“This is an outstanding achievement and will lift staff, parents and students in what has been a challenging year for Copleston High School following the arson attack last summer.

“Students have worked under trying conditions which make these a particularly pleasing set of results.”

Suffolk College, in Ipswich, was also celebrating improved results.

Marilyn Watsham, deputy principal, said: “Yet again I am delighted with our A-level results which continue to show year-on-year improvement.

“These results reflect the hard work of both students and staff, and will help students who have applied to university gain their places.

“There are particularly pleasing results in the established A-levels of English language and literature, French, law and human biology.

“The newly introduced A-levels in film studies, communication studies and government and politics have also enjoyed good results.”

Staff at Ipswich School were hailing this year's A-level results as “outstanding”, with 30 students achieving straight A grades.

With a 100pc pass rate, 80.1pc of passes at grades A and B, and a UCAS points average per student of 325.85, the results were the best the school has ever achieved.

Headmaster Ian Galbraith said: “We are used to our students breaking records but these are by far our best results ever.

“We look forward confidently to a large number of our pupils achieving the new top A star grade when it is introduced next year.”

Eleven students are set to take university places at Oxford and Cambridge.

At Claydon High School, students achieved more straight A grades than ever before.

Dennis McGarry, headteacher at St Alban's Catholic High School, in Ipswich, paid tribute to students' achievements.

He said: “The results are on a par with last year which were our best ever results.

“The pass rate is 99pc and the vast majority are in the A to C range.

“It's a magnificent achievement for our students and the staff.”

Stowmarket High School enjoyed a pass rate of 95pc.

Out of 122 candidates, 82 applied to university and all have scored enough points to achieve a place in higher education.

At Farlingaye High School, in Woodbridge, students and staff celebrated a 99pc pass rate.

Sue Hargadon, headteacher, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have had another year of outstanding resultsx with over 30pc of grades a grade A and 56pc at grades A and B.

“An astonishing 13pc of students achieved four grade As and more than 31pc of students achieved at least two grade As.”

Staff and pupils at Ipswich High School for Girls were on cloud nine after receiving the best ever A-level results in the school's history.

Of the 100pc pass rate, 83pc scored A and B grades, with a quarter of the pupils gaining straight As in their subjects.

The school's maths results were particularly impressive, with 85pc of candidates gaining grade A. Modern languages also achieved 61pc A grades.

Head, Elaine Purves, said: “These results are amazing. They are testament to the enormous effort the girls have put in to their studies, and to the dedication of all our staff.”

Westbourne High School in Ipswich was predicting similar results to last year when the pass rate was 93pc.

Deputy headteacher Dave Thomas said the school had enjoyed some excellent individual results.

Results at Woodbridge School continued to improve, with more A grades than last year and spectacular results in the traditionally harder subjects of mathematics, physics and modern languages.

Headmaster Stephen Cole said: “I am delighted that our students continue to achieve at such a high level without compromising their prospects with lukewarm courses.”

The school's pass rate was 100pc, with 68pc gaining As and Bs.

Chantry and Stoke combined sixth form in Ipswich enjoyed a pass rate of 95pc. In all, 39pc gained As and Bs.

Deputy headteacher Jamie Daniels said: “We are very pleased with the results and we had some fantastic individual scores.

“We have seen an improvement on last year's results.”

Claydon High School reported a higher number of straight As than ever before, with the overall pass rate at 93pc.

Headteacher Beth Soule said: “Our students did particularly well in biology, psychology and chemistry.

“We think all those who applied to university have got at least one of their choices and none should have to go through clearing.”