THERE was joy for thousands of nervous teenagers across Dorset as A-Level results rose nationally for the 29th year in a row.

There was added pressure on A-Level students with the knowledge that youngsters missing out on a place this year could face tuition fees of up to £9,000.

While many teenagers celebrated, others still face an anxious wait to see if they can find a place to study as the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services revealed a record number of students are eligible for clearing compared to the same time last year.

There was also controversy when UCAS was forced to temporarily shut its Track website, preventing many students from finding out whether their grades had earned them a university place.

How the schools and students shaped up

Bournemouth:

BOURNEMOUTH and Poole College achieved a 92 per cent pass rate overall and a 100 per cent pass rate in 14 subjects, with 18 students recording A*s grades, including three who got three A*s each.

ST PETER’S School’s deputy head teacher Angie Wazejewski, said: “This year marks the 60th anniversary of the school providing education at 6th Form level and these results in 2011 will ensure that virtually all students will secure their first choice of university or employment.”

RESULTS at Bournemouth School for Girls were its best ever with 74 per cent of exams passed at A*, A or B grades – an increase of seven per cent on last year. AT Oakmead College of Technology Sixth Form 99 per cent of students achieved A-level or equivalent passes with some outstanding individual performances, including 20 per cent of students achieving A* equivalent grades across a range of courses.

AT Bournemouth Collegiate School, 75 per cent of modern foreign languages students gained at least an A grade. Principal Stephen Duckitt, said: “We are also especially encouraged by the results of the large AS cohort moving into Year 13 this September.”

GIRLS at Talbot Heath were celebrating after 90 per cent girls achieved A* to B grades with 22 per cent attaining an A*.

Fifty-five per cent of candidates gained three or more A* or A grades in their subjects with 58 per cent gaining at least one A*.

Head at Talbot Heath Angharad Holloway, said: “I am delighted with the superb results of the girls which are a testament to their hard work and the commitment.”

Poole:

AN “EXCEPTIONAL” performance from Year 13 students has been celebrated at St Edward’s RC VA School in Poole.

The percentage of entries gaining the highest grades of A* or A was up again at 27.4 per cent. A*, A and B grades were achieved by 46.4 per cent of students with 71 per cent gaining A* to C grades, an increase of five per cent.

POOLE Grammar School students achieved some stunning results with just under 100 per cent pass rate and just under 50 per cent of students achieving three A*, A, B grades or better.

Twenty-two subjects had 100 per cent pass rates and the school’s Oxbridge candidates produced some quite outstanding individual paper results.

SIXTH formers at Corfe Hills School achieved a 98 per cent pass rate, with a 100 per cent pass rate in 24 subjects.

Out of 176 students, 166 made the grade to get into university without going through clearing.

Mathematicians excelled with 33 out of 48 entries to Maths and Further Maths gaining A or A*.

AT girls only Parkstone Grammar School, there was a 99.2 per cent pass rate, with 73 per cent A* to B grades.

Three students achieved three A* grades and six earned four A* or As.

In other individual achievements 30 girls gained three A* or A grades and another 37 got two A* or As.

Christchurch and New Forest:

TWYNAM School celebrated record breaking A-level results with an overall pass rate of 99 per cent making this year the best results in the school’s history.

PUPILS studying vocational subjects in sport, business, ICT, childcare and public services at The Grange achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

BROCKENHURST College has celebrated another year of record results, maintaining an overall pass rate of 99 per cent.

More than one in four of all students achieved A*s or As and three quarters of all students achieved A* to C grades.

One hundred per cent pass rates were achieved in 32 subjects.

International Baccalaureate students also celebrated success with an overall pass rate of 88 per cent, with 72 per cent of students achieving the equivalent of 3.5 grade As at A level.

HEADTEACHER at The Arnewood School, Chris Hummerstone, said: “We’re thrilled to see so many of the highest grades of straight A’s and A*s being awarded, improving even further on last year's results.”

AT Ringwood School, 100 per cent of students achieved a pass at A Level, A* to E, with 77 per cent of students achieving a high pass rate A* to C.

Ninety-nine per cent of students on BTEC courses passed and 16 students gained three or more A* and A grades.

THE Burgate School and Sixth Form Centre achieved a pass rate of 96.2 per cent and A*-B 43 per cent. Pupil Beth Brockbank got four A* and one A and is off to study medicine at UCL.

East Dorset:

QUEEN Elizabeth's School in Wimborne racked up a pass rate of 98.4 per cent, with 71 per cent A* to C and 45 per cent A* to B grades. There was a 100 per cent pass rate in 34 out of 41 subjects.

FERNDOWN Upper School achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, 2.2 per cent above the national average.

Headteacher Alex Wills, said: “The students have done incredibly well this year in a context, which isn’t easy. There are a lot of pressures facing them these days.”

FORTY per cent of candidates at Canford School in Wimborne gained all A* and A grades and 96 per cent of all grades were A* to C with 85 per cent A*to B.

North Dorset:

MORE than a third of students at Clayesmore achieved A or A*s. Two Clayesmore students gained places at Oxford and Cambridge.

Purbeck:

PURBECK School’s assistant headteacher Deborah Rayner, said: “The overwhelming majority of our students achieved the grades they needed for their university places and we congratulate every one of them.”