ALCESTER Grammar School celebrated another successful year of A-level results on Thursday with more than 95 per cent of students passing, the same percentage as last year.

Almost 50 per cent of pupils at the Birmingham Road school scooped A and B grades, with more than half achieving As and Bs in some of the stronger subjects, such as business studies, mathematics, German and home economics.

Top student Tom Billiard attained five A grades and one B and will go on to study medicine at university.

William Johnson, Becky Shearn, Richard Smith and Laura Wilson also swept the board with four A grades apiece.

Headteacher Andy Shearn said: "Given that we have a comprehensive entry policy for A-level in that pupils with four GCSEs can attend, compared with many schools which insist on five, this is another fine year for A-level results.

"But it was a worrying time for the art pupils who had to wait until late on Friday afternoon for their results to come through.

"Many thought they may miss out on university places but had done very well when the results did arrive."

Mr Shearn also said that out of an estimated 120 who applied to go to university, only two failed to secure a place.

"We were very pleased. The results exceeded our expectations and the students did very well indeed," he added.

He also said the school's sixth form was set to almost double in size next September when pupil numbers rise from 161 to 350, making it the biggest sixth form in the county.

The move follows a £630,000 Government allocation to cope with rising student numbers and may include the provision of additional art and technology facilities and a science laboratory which will benefit the whole school.