THOUSANDS of Worcestershire teenagers were considering their futures today after news of some of the best ever A-level results in the county.

Help is on hand from a variety of organisations for those who are unsure about their next move or who failed to get the grades they needed.

Meanwhile, many students were still celebrating their achievements.

Malvern College announced eight pupils had achieved three or four grade As.

The school said 96 per cent of subjects were passed, with 28 per cent at grade A.

"When considering the results, the fact many of our brightest pupils have already taken the International Baccalaureate has to be taken into account," said headmaster Hugh Carson. "These averaged the A-level equivalent of between grades AAB and ABB."

The school predicts half of its sixth form will take the IB instead of A-levels by 2002.

Meanwhile at nearby St James's School, the Sir John Harvey Jones School for International Business celebrated a 100 per cent pass rate in Advanced GNVQ Business Studies.

Headmistress Stephanie Kershaw said she was "delighted" so many of the school's girls were joining the ranks of successful businesswomen.

In Kidderminster, Holy Trinity School announced a 99.5 per cent pass rate. Ninety per cent of the grades achieved by the all-girl sixth form were at A-C.

Among the successes were Charlotte Upton, who achieved four As, and Catherine Hearnshaw who had three As and a B.

Worcestershire's director of education Julien Kramer said it already looked like another "very good year" for A-level results.

"This is a fitting outcome for all the hard work by students and staff and I'm very proud of them," he said.

"Worcestershire LEA is committed to continuous improvement in all our schools. I'm delighted this commitment is reflected in these A-level results and warmly congratulate the students, teachers and their schools."

6 Across the border Herefordshire College of Technology celebrated after its students performed among the country's top five for the second year running.

Owen Heath, 18, of Hereford, gained three As and was placed in the top five for biology. He plans to study medicine at King's College, London.

Debbie Reynolds, 25, of Hereford, gained two As. Her performance in environmental science put her among the top five. She will read psychology at University College Worcester.