THE suspense was over for hundreds of A-level students getting their results yesterday.

Nationally, there was the first fall in more than two decades in the number proportion of A or A* grades awarded. But some schools locally were reporting their best ever results.

The national figures also showed boys slightly outperforming girls for A* grades for the first time, although girls were still ahead for A grades.

POOLE

PARKSTONE GRAMMAR

Headteacher Anne Shinwell said there was a 99.6 per cent pass rate for A-levels, with nine per cent of those at A*, 38 per cent at A* to A and 73 per cent at A* to B.

“Most importantly, the vast majority of students have the necessary qualifications for further study at university in this difficult year,” she said.

Thirty girls achieved two A* or A grades, 22 girls had three A* and A grades and six girls managed four A* and A grades.

Out of those, Lois Baker and Claire Smid had four A*s. Five girls – Sarah Holmes, lauren Saini, Katie tibbles, Charlotte Woodward and Ali Toop all notched up three A*s.

ST EDWARD’S SCHOOL

Headteacher Pola Bevan said most of the 200 pupils in the sixth form had achieved or excelled their targets.

The pass rate for A-levels was 98 per cent, up two per cent on last year, with 42 per cent at A*-B grades.

The pass rate for AS levels was 92 per cent, up seven per cent on last year.

“We have a number of really good results. I’m pleased about that because we’re comprehensive, not selective,” she said.

POOLE GRAMMAR

“The majority of boys got the grades they needed and got their university places,” said headteacher Ian Carter.

This included the Oxbridge candidates, Russell Group universities and those heading for medical school.

However even those who dropped a grade or two below their required grades were still being offered places at their first choice universities, he said.

Students recorded a 99 per cent pass rate, with general studies the only subject falling below 100 per cent.

The percentage pass rate for A*, A and B grades was 54 per cent.

“There are a lot of very happy young men we hope will go off and do great things,” said Mr Carter.

POOLE HIGH SCHOOL

“Fifty-five students were accepted into university which is our highest ever,” said Janet Tuckett, head of senior school.

“We are exceptionally pleased and most children exceeded their targets.”

There was an overall improvement from last year with 44 per cent gaining A* to B, 76 per cent A* to C and 99 per cent A* to E, including BTEC.

Best performers were Steph Blaney with three A*s, Mike Smith with two A*s and a B, Katie Bligh with A*, A and B, John Nash AABB, Jess Gurney distinction* BDA, Kerr Melvin Smith four Bs and Sam Bayston, Evie Beech, Phil Lowell, Glenn Rickets and Jack Satterly distinction* in BTEC sport.

BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth School for Girls

The number of A and A* grades at Bournemouth School for Girls rose to 41.73 per cent.

Head teacher Alistair Brien said: "The results achieved are amongst our very best ever with 72.18 per cent of exams passed at A*, A or B grades and 99.28 per cent of exams passed at A-E grades.

"The number of A and A* grades achieved is up on last year with 36 students gaining three or more A* or A grades.”

ST PETER’S, SOUTHBOURNE

Angie Wazejewski, deputy headteacher at St Peter’s, said: "This year has seen excellent performances across the whole ability range in excess of 98 per cent at A*-E as the majority of our students head for the best universities both in the UK and abroad."

BOURNEMOUTH SCHOOL

Bournemouth’s pass rate improved, with 99.3 per cent gaining A* to E, against 99 per cent last year.

The number of A* grades dropped from 13.8 per cent to 12.5 per cent, but the combined total of A*, A and B grades together rose to 66.7 per cent from 66 per cent in 2011. Headmaster Dorian Lewis said: “At a time when it appears that nationally A-level results are no longer improving, it is pleasing that a level performance at the school continues to improve.”

BOURNEMOUTH COLLEGIATE SCHOOL

Maria Coulter, head of the sixth form, said new strategies had ensured a five per cent increase in A* and A grades and a “quite unbelievable” 20 per cent increase in A* to C grades, with nearly 80 per cent achieving C grades or above.

She said Bournemouth Collegiate Sixth Form has more than doubled in size this year and results have enabled many students to gain Russell Group university places. It was the school’s best ever year for results.

OAKMEAD COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Oakmead saw a rise in two per cent to get a 100 per cent pass rate at A-level.

A total of 270 students in the sixth form took a mixture of A levels, BTECs and AS levels.

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE

THE college saw an improvement of three per cent on the pass rates from 2011, with 100 per cent pass rates in 19 subjects and five students gaining A* grades.

Tracey Griffin, head of sixth form at the college said: “We are very proud of the marvellous achievements of our A-level students.”

TALBOT HEATH

The girls at Talbot Heath are celebrating exam success with 80 per cent gaining A* to B grades. Mrs Holloway, headteacher, said: “The girls have worked hard and deserve their wonderful results, which have enabled them to take up their university places."

CHRISTCHURCH

HIGHCLIFFE SCHOOL

Headteacher Judith Potts said the overall pass rate was 99 per cent, with 20 per cent of those students achieving all A*-A grades and half of all grades were at A* - B. They also saw that 38 per cent of diploma course students gained a *Distinction – Distinction grade.

She said: “These grades are exceptionally good, as ever.

She added: “My thanks go to our students, staff and parents, who have all worked so hard together to achieve these excellent results.”

Twynham School Headteacher Terry Fish, head teacher from Twynham School said the school had an overall 97-98 per cent pass rate for 172 students taking A-levels.

He said: “They’ve done exceptionally well. We’ve got 13 students with at least three As. A lot of these were in maths and sciences, and this includes medical science, which is just stunning.”

OTHER AREAS

LYTCHETT MINSTER

Headteacher Stuart Clark paid tribute to students and staff for the “splendid” 98 per cent A level pass rate. All but two of the 27 subjects offered to students had a 100 per cent pass rate. The pass rate for AS levels was 94 per cent, three per cent up on last year. A and B grades were also up.

SHAFTESBURY/ Sturminster Newton

THE partnership sixth form of Shaftesbury School and Sturminster Newton High School saw an improvement on last year.

Mark Blackman, headteacher of the Shaftesbury School paid tribute to the work of previous headteacher David Booth.

Jayne Barron, headteacher of Sturminster Newton High School, added: “Many students achieved above their target grades and we are especially pleased with the performance in the science and mathematics courses.”

NEW FOREST

Brockenhurst College

Di Roberts, Principal at Brockenhurst College, said the college had maintained its 99 per cent overall pass rate, with more than half achieving grades A*-B and a 100 per cent pass rate in 35 subjects.

Laura Martin from New Milton , gained one A* and three A grades, meaning that she will go to Oxford University in September to study History of Art.

Ringwood

SCHOOL Chris Edwards, head teacher at Ringwood School, says it have achieved the best A-level results in recent history, with and 58 per cent of all grades awarded being A*-B, and a 100 per cent pass rate in over 30 subjects.

All students who took a BTEC Course passed and there were 37 Distinction*-Distinction grades achieved.

She said: “Nineteen students achieved three or more grades at A* - A grade, with the highest results being awarded to Robyn Lewis, Kate Morley and Cara Marks.”

She added: “Not surprisingly therefore, the majority our university applicants have already secured places at their first choice institutions.”

THE ARNEWOOD SCHOOL

Headteacher Chris Hummerstone said that the school achieved a 99 per cent overall pass rate, with more than 30 per cent of students achieving at least one A*-A grade.

She said: “Our Sixth Form goes from strength to strength and in the new term we will have new Science and vocational suites, and enhanced accommodation, for what we expect to be our largest ever Sixth Form intake.”

Two of the schools successes were Mara Pop, who achieved three A*s and Rhianna Cearns, who has secured her place at Oxford University to read German.

BURGATE SCHOOL

Headteacher David Pover said of 64.7 per cent of students achieved A* to B with 32 of the 33 subjects getting a 100 per cent pass rate.

Mr Pover said: “Results day is always an emotional rollercoaster and it is wonderful to witness the reward for all of the hard work and dedication of students and staff.”

“This year we have two students going to Oxford to read Chemistry, but I am equally delighted that so many have of our sixth formers secured first choice places at top universities.”

EAST DORSET

QE SCHOOL, WIMBORNE

Headteacher Andy Puttock said the overall pass rate was over 97 per cent, with a record 32 per cent of those grades being at A*-A standard. The top-forming subjects were English Literature, with a 90 per cent of students achieving A*- C, 82 per cent of students gaining A*-C in Geography, and the three science disciplines saw 73 per cent of students achieving A*-C.

Mr Puttock said: “We pride ourselves on being a full comprehensive sixth form offering a range of opportunity to students of all abilities, and we are very pleased to see their endeavour is paying off.”

CORFE HILLS

Corfe Hills achieved a 98 per cent pass rate.

A total of 16 per cent of exam results were an A or A* and 21 subjects saw a 100 per cent pass rate.

In maths, 40 per cent gained A or A*.

CANFORD SCHOOL

Headmaster John Lever reported the best ever A-level results. A quarter of all A-levels were awarded the top A* grade, compared with 20 per cent in and 65 per cent of all grades were A*-A, up from 60 per cent last year.

The school’s top performers, Ben Chapple from Wareham and Naomi Vides from Poole, both gained four A*s, and Francesca Jones from Ringwood, Annie Kilpatrick from Alderholt and Mischa Pinnington from Wimborne, all achieved three A*s.

FERNDOWN UPPER SCHOOL

Headteacher Alex Wills said: “Around 40 per cent of our students gained A*-B grades, which is the best that we have ever achieved.

He added: “Overall, we have a 98 per cent pass rate and out of the 72 students who applied for uni, at least 60 of those have got into their first choice. We also have a 91 per cent pass rate for AS levels, which is great.”