EXCELLENT A'Level results had pupils and students celebrating at schools in Malvern and Hanley Castle yesterday.

The Chase, which has produced outstanding results for the last four years, has made further improvements this year.

The overall pass rate was 98 per cent, with 53 per cent graded A or B. Students gained an average points score of 25, equivalent to more than three B grades.

Three students had five A grades: Nathan Broomhead, Rebecca Tummey and Evan Green, while seven others were awarded four A grades.

These were Jenny Brown, Phoebe Cobb, Emma Conein, Corin Hughes, Megan Sherliker, Rachel Wells and David Williams.

The school's GNVQ results were the best in the county last year and are even better this year, with 50 per cent distinctions and 47 per cent merits.

"People have become used to results of this quality, but we must not take them for granted," said the Head, David Fawbert.

"We spend a lot of time finding a match between appropriate courses and the abilities and ambitions of students. They are also down to excellent Sixth Form organisation from Aydin Onac and his colleagues, high expectations and very hard work."

Dyson Perrins head Peter Buchanan also said the school's candidates had done exceptionally well, however the results were analysed.

"Forty per cent of the subject entries at A'Level resulted in an A or B grade and 66 per cent resulted in an A, B or C," he said. In terms of progress from GCSE to A'Level, 63 per cent of our candidates were above the national average."

The school's policy of encouraging borderline candidates to "have a go" had produced results of which they could be very proud, said Mr Buchanan.

At Hanley Castle High School, headmaster Alan Johnston said he was very pleased with the results.

"Our predictions were pretty accurate. The results were as good as we expected and there were no disasters," he said.

"Most people have got the grades they wanted and will be going on to the universities or careers of their choice."

At Malvern College, A'Level pupils gained passes in 96 per cent of subjects taken.

Provisional results show that 28 per cent of the passes were at grade A and eight people got three or four A grades.

Headmaster Hugh Carson said: "Many of our brightest pupils have already taken the International Baccalaureate.

"These averaged the A'Level equivalent of between grades AAB and ABB."

A'Level results at Malvern Girls' College were very good, with some outstanding achievements by a number of girls.

"We are very pleased with the results, which reflect a great deal of hard work and enthusiasm on behalf of the girls and the staff," said the head, Mrs Philippa Leggate.

Students at the Sir John Harvey Jones School for International Business at St James's School achieved a pass rate of 100 per cent in the advanced GNVQ Business Studies course.

Headmistress Stephanie Kershaw said an increasing number of girls were opting for business related courses after leaving school.

Their success owed much to the support received from local businesses, with more than 40 companies in Malvern and Worcester allowing the girls access to "real life" business experience.