VALE schools are celebrating some top class A level results.

n See next week's paper for a full results round-up.

Evesham High head David Kelly said although the overall results were slightly down on last year, those who took A levels were delighted and are heading for the universities of their choice.

Lisa McKechnie, of Bengeworth, said: "I've got a C and two Ds and am going to Hertfordshire University to study primary education."

Adam Scott, of the Four Pools Estate, had two C's and a D. He said: "I've got exactly what I needed and am going to Middlesex University for media and cultural studies."

Mr Kelly said: "Our pass rate of 86% this year was a little disappointing compared with 90% last year - our highest ever result.

"However, it is in line with previous years. Our very strong results this time have been in history and art, with almost all students getting A or Bs."

Mr Kelly said he had not had time to analyse the results of the A levels, but he said he would not be surprised if they followed the national trend of girls pulling away from boys.

"If girls are catching up and overtaking now it can only be a success story that they are eventually realising their full potential and taking their rightful place in the world," he said.

At Prince Henry's High, Ben Harrison, Craig Hatcher, Amy Smith and Amy Fletcher's results were among the best in the school, which scored a pass rate of 97.4%, up nearly 4% on last year's total and eight points up on the national average.

Headmaster Bernard Roberts said: "We are very pleased, although the results are in line with what we expected."

Ben Harrison, the school's head boy, turned in three As in economics, geography and general studies. He also scored a B in English literature and plans to take a year out before hopefully going to Manchester University.

Another top performer was Amy Smith who achieved 4 A grades. She will be going backpacking in Australia for a year and is also going to the Sydney Olympics.

"I was predicted four As, but I never thought I'd get them," she said.

Four A grades were also scored by Craig Hatcher, who said he will now reconsider his options after doing better than he expected. The group was completed by Amy Fletcher, who intends to take a gap year to do "something in the medical area".

At Pershore, head Michael Krier said: "Our students did very well indeed and we had a 93% pass rate with significantly more A and B grades than in recent years."

He said several students had three or four A grades, while others had achieved four As and a B. He said virtually all students had a place at university.