STAFF and students at Poole High School are celebrating record A level results.

Half of all exams taken were graded between A* and B and seven out of ten students in the year group are now packing their bags for university.

Deputy head Sian Phillips said progress made between GCSEs and A levels at the Wimborne Road school is above the national average.

And the school is now looking forward to good GCSE results on Thursday. Progress made by the younger students between Year 7 and Year 11 is also higher than average.

Every student who took the combined English Literature and Language A level got a B or above, as did 90 per cent of those who took maths A level.

"We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our students," said Sian. "We are the biggest school in Poole and we are comprehensive.

"It is a great achievement to see so much progress, particularly as we are in an area served by grammar schools which take many of the top students in the area."

Among the successful students was Poppy Cowan, who gained four A* grades and will study zoology at Exeter University.

Charlotte Boucher and Amy Pathak both got three A* grades and will study social work at Bournemouth University and psychology at University College London respectively.

Five students got three Distinction* grades on vocational courses. Josh Beck, Jack Hepburn, Ricki Miles, Ben Olding and Ben Porter are all going to university to study sport-related subjects.

Head of sixth form, Jen Jacklin, said: "We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and also the commitment and high quality teaching delivered by our staff.

"The support our students receive is second to none and this, along with focus and determination to succeed, has ensured that our students have the very best opportunities open to them for their future pathways."