BIG smiles were seen across Dorset as the class of 2022 collected their A Level results.
Students, parents and staff celebrated their results after the first exams for two years following the coronavirus pandemic.
At Parkstone Grammar School, 77.5 per cent of all grades were A* to B.
Headteacher David Hallsworth said: "This year’s cohort have made it through an incredibly tough two years, as they were unable to sit GCSEs in 2020 so this summer’s exams were the first external assessments they have taken."
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Poole High School headteacher Paul Gray said students had shown "dedication, tenacity and resilience".
He said: "This year we celebrate not merely a record number of students going on to university, but also more students than ever, succeeding in their first choices for the prestigious Russell Group university places too.”
At Bournemouth School For Girls, 62.74 per cent of all results were at A or A*.
Headteacher Alistair Brien said: "These results are a real testament to the hard work and dedication of both students and staff in what has been an incredibly difficult time over the last two years. I am delighted to be bowing out, able to say that these really are our best results ever."
Student Tamsyn McKenzie said: "I was studying psychology, art and English language and I got all A*’s, I am so pleased."
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The Bishop of Winchester Academy saw 40.2 per cent achieve A*-A or equivalent.
Principal Paul McKeown said: "This year group coped exceptionally well with the challenges through two lockdowns and other times of self-isolation."
Almost 70 per cent of grades achieved at Poole Grammar School were A* to B with 31 students gaining a clean sweep of A/A* grades.
Headteacher Dr A J Smith said: "After two very challenging years, we are absolutely delighted for our students today."
Ninety-seven per cent achieved grades A* to E at The Bourne Academy. Principal Mark Avoth said: "It is important to bear in mind that our Year 13 students have had the most disrupted learning journey of any other cohort."
St Peter’s School headteacher Ben Doyle said: "There are so many happy faces and it's just testament to the hard work of the teachers and all the other adults who supported them but most of all the hard work they put in has paid off, they should be so proud."
Student Oliver Payne said: "With Covid, it was really different, so I didn't know how it would go, never doing GCSEs, I didn't know how I would feel after the exams but I’m so happy with my results."
Magna Academy congratulated students on a "tremendous achievement" following an "incredibly tough" time.
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At Bournemouth Collegiate School, 83 per cent of students achieved an A*to C grade including BTEC subjects.
Headmaster Russell Slatford said: "The results they have achieved are outstanding and show that hard work in the face of adversity really does pay off."
Queen Elizabeth’s School headteacher Katie Boyes said she was “delighted” with her students results.
She added: "The results that they have achieved are tremendous and we are incredibly proud of them and congratulate them all."
The Arnewood School saw one in five students achieve A* to A grades.
Headteacher Nigel Pressnell said: "Each of them has worked extremely hard, supported by a dedicated team of teaching and non-teaching staff at the school."
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Ringwood School saw 65.4 per cent achieve top grades of A*, A or B.
Headteacher Leanne Symonds said: "Despite these unprecedented challenges our students have shown the utmost determination and resilience and have today reaped the rewards."
Meanwhile, St Edward’s School said 73 per cent of students would be going onto university.
Headteacher Mr M Antram said: "We are immensely proud of our sixth formers and their fantastic results."
At Twynham School, one in three grades achieved were A* to A.
Executive headteacher Jy Taylor said: "It is difficult to overstate how pleased I am for our students today.
"Everyone should remember that these students did not have the experience of sitting their GCSEs and have risen to the challenges of having such disruption to their education. Each and everyone of them deserves our congratulations and to have outperformed the results that were awarded in 2021 is simply exceptional."
Safia Tailamon got A* A* A and is off to Leeds to study economics.
She said: "I’m shocked, but I feel like I put a shift in for it so I’m happy."
Corfe Hills said a "vast majority" of students secured first choice university places.
Headteacher James Sankey said: "Our students have worked incredibly hard and we are delighted to be celebrating with them today as they receive their results."
Lytchett Minster School headmaster Andrew Mead said he was "immensely proud" of students for showing “great spirit and resilience”.
Ferndown Upper School headteacher Philip Jones said: "This has been a very challenging year for the students and they have responded brilliantly, we are very proud of them."
At Highcliffe, headteacher Patrick Earnshaw said: "I’m delighted by the results. We’ve bucked the national trend for declining results. They’re fabulous results. I’m really pleased for the staff and students, it’s been a tough two years for them but they’re some of the best a level results we’ve ever had."
Talbot Heath had a 100 per cent pass rate, with 50 per cent of all grades A* or A and 82 per cent of all grades A*-B.
Headteacher Angharad Holloway said: "I am thrilled that after three very challenging years of Covid disruption, pupils are realising their ambitions and heading out into exciting futures.
"A huge thank you and congratulations to our staff for their expertise, commitment and support of our pupils.
"It was a proud day for me as Head of such a wonderful school."
At Highcliffe, 36 per cent of all grades were the top A*/A grades.
Headteacher Mr P Earnshaw said: "Congratulations to our students and my wonderful Sixth Form teaching and pastoral team for together making today’s success possible after Covid’s two years of unprecedented disruption to education."
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