A-level students at Sir Harry Smith in Whittlesey are celebrating after beating last year’s results.

Overall the number of pupils gaining A* to E grades rose by one per cent from 98 per cent last year to 99 per cent in 2016.

And all 100 per cent of vocational students gained passes - 91 per cent gaining a Distinction* or Distinction grade. That is up on last year’s figure of 83 per cent.

The number of students gaining top marks with either an A* or A grade was 28 per cent. Those gaining A* to B grades was 44 per cent and for A* to C grades it was 80 per cent - the same as in 2015.

Dawn White, associate principal, said: “The overall pass rate is at 99 per cent, which is a great achievement for the students and their teachers. 94 per cent of the students have accepted offers to study at university including a number of Russell Group and other top universities.”

She said all vocational students received a Distinction* to Pass grade, with 94 per cent gaining a Distinction* to Merit grade and 91 per cent achieved a Distinction* to Distinction grade.

“Again I am delighted by the success of these students. Special mention goes to Steven Surridge and Katie Barnes who both gained 3 Distinction* grades each and also to Naomi Hall who gained 2 Distinction* grades and 1 Distinction grade.

“The students have worked extremely hard this year to achieve this level of success and they deserve to feel very proud of their exam results. The results also reflect the hard work and dedication of the teachers and staff at Sir Harry Smith Community College.”

She added: “I would like to congratulate Katie-Anne Jardine, who gained A*, A, A and is going to Cambridge to read Human, Social and Political Science. Congratulations also to James Dudley: A, A, A who will be going to Warwick to read History; Solomon Davies: A, A, B who will be going to Queen Mary University of London to read Business Management; Adam Ruff: C, A A* who will be going to Lincoln to read Games Computing and Megan Young: A, B, A who will be going to UEA to read History

“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Thomas Cave who has been successful in obtaining a sponsored degree in Engineering and Technology with the BBC.”