THE wait was finally over for hundreds of nervous students across Redditch and Alcester as A-level exam results were revealed last week.

Nationally, the amount of A* and A grades was slightly down (0.1 per cent) with the pass rate (grades A*-E) of 98.1 per cent - the same as last year.

Despite this, according to UCAS, the amount of University places offered was up by three per cent.

Following the trend, at RSA Academy Arrow Vale all students gained their University entry requirements and none will be going through clearing.

Some 71 per cent of pupils achieved A* to C grades, with average grade per subject the highest ever.

Principal Guy Shears said:"We are delighted with the superb results again this year.

"They reflect the hard work of our students and staff, and also of course our parents. Congratulations to everyone."

At St Augustine's High School every student attained three or more A-levels/BTEC passes, with 96 A*/A grades across the year group.

Principal Tony Quinn praised the "remarkable" results.

"It makes Saint Augustine's Catholic High School the local school of choice, within the county and on a national level," he said.

Also celebrating a full house was Woodrush High School in Hollywood and The Heart of Worcestershire College (How).

More than a third of students at Woodrush gained top A* to B grades.

A school spokesman said: "We are extremely proud of our students and we are delighted with their hard work and commitment to their studies at Woodrush.

"We congratulate all our sixth form students and wish them the very best at University, and thank parents, carers and our staff who supported their fantastic achievements."

Assistant How principal Peter Robinson said: "It’s great to see so many of our students deciding to continue their studies into higher levels at the college; reflecting the great opportunities available and the increased confidence students have gained whilst studying with us. We wish all of our students every continued success."

The headteacher of Trinity High School in Redditch said he was "delighted" with the school's A-level results.

Top performers included Jacob Groves, (A*/A/A), Martin Hayward (A*/A*/A/B), Jamie Hathaway (A*/A/A /B) and Kinga Krawiec (A*/A*/B).

Headteacher Adrian Ward said: "I am delighted that Trinity Sixth Form continues to demonstrate a drive for excellence for all our students.

"The students and staff should be extremely proud of these achievements."

Alcester Grammar School celebrated its best ever A-level results with over 67 per cent of entries graded A*to B.

Principal Clive Sentance said:"We’re so proud of our wonderful sixth formers who yet again have achieved excellent results and made so much of their time here. These results are thoroughly deserved our students have put in a great deal of effort to make the most of their talents and our skilled and dedicated staff team have worked tirelessly to support them."

He added that the "outstanding" figure was even higher for those students who have been at the school for the whole of their secondary education.

This year, 51 students achieved at least three A grades and over a third achieved at least A,A,B.

Worcestershire County Council reported that initial data indicated that, out of the majority of the schools in the county, 85 per cent of Worcestershire students achieved three or more A* to E grades.