WITH A-level grades improving for the 18th year running, national scenes of celebration on results day were replicated in Farnham schools last week.

At All Hallows in Weybourne, mobile phones were much in use as jubilant pupils rang friends and family with their good news.

Ninety-nine per cent of pupils at the Roman Catholic secondary school achieved pass grades (A-to-E) and 77 per cent achieved the higher A-to-C grades.

The average points score per pupil - with an A grade commanding 10 points and each subsequent lower grade falling by two points - was 19.9. The average points per pupil was 6.8 - up from 6.2.

Watching her pupils enjoy their big moment, headteacher Elizabeth Lutzeier told The Herald: "I think the best thing is the 99 per cent pass rate but we've also had an improvement from 18.4 to 19.9 in the average points per pupil and our target is 20. The average points score per subject is probably the greatest credit to the teachers because it tells you that people are delivering good results."

The continued improvement in A-level scores across the country has led to repeated claims that the qualifications are becoming easier, but Ms Lutzeier denied this is the case.

"I taught A-levels myself this year and studied them a long time ago and they're not easier than they were, they're just dealing with different things.

"When I studied language A-levels there was no emphasis on speaking, which there is now. A-levels today are more relevant to the needs of today and that's what education should always have been about."

Star performers at All Hallows this year included Matthew Bird from Alton who got four As in maths, physics, chemistry and French.

"I expected possibly three As and a B in French. I put it down to hard work, good time management and luck," said a modest Matthew who is off to study natural sciences at Cambridge University.

Meanwhile, head girl Caroline Spooner, from Bracknell, overcame adversity in the shape of thyroid cancer to gain three As in theology, English and art.

"I was in hospital and I had to come out to do some of my modules. I was still on morphine.

"I've been on holiday in Greece and was trying to convince myself that I'd got all Us just in case I'd done badly."

Her reward is a place at the University of Sussex in Brighton studying philosophy.

p It was a similar story at Farnham College. A quarter of all the grades achieved were A grades - six per cent more than the national average.

The average points score was 5.6 and the total per student was 20.97.

The overall pass rate was 93 per cent - four per cent above the national average.

Seventy per cent of grades achieved were the higher A-to-C grades, an increase of three per cent on last year's record figure and again places the college in the top 20 nationally.

One-hundred per cent pass rates were achieved in 18 subjects

Three or more A grades were gained by 20 students.

Former Weydon School pupil Helen Newport gained four A grades and one B and is off to Wadham College, Oxford, to read economics and management.

And Nat Thomas achieved three As, overcoming the effects of a serious illness.

College principal Sally Francis said: "Again our examination results show how hardworking and capable our pupils and staff are. We are particularly pleased with the achievement of 70 per cent of top grades alongside a pass rate of 93 per cent.

"We have an open access policy. We don't let just the strongest students enter exams."

Lord Wandsworth College celebrated its best A-level results with 58 per cent of grades at A or B and 30 per cent at grade A.

The independent school saw only one failure out of 183 examinations taken. Five students gained three or more grade As, two of whom, Rebecca Wharf and Ed Crosthwaite-Eyre securing their places at Oxford University to study English and biological science.

Headteacher Ian Power said: "I am delighted with this set of results; they reflect the highly focused nature of the A-level students this year and their commitment to achieve the best of their ability.

"It is also a tribute to my staff who gave selflessly of their time outside of normal lessons to ensure their students were fully prepared for the examinations."

The first set of AS results matched the success of the A-levels with 59 per cent A or B grades and 30 per cent A grades.

Of the AS grades, Mr Power said: "They were committed to their academic studies while managing to maintain a broad extra-curricular programme.

"We have tailored our courses this year to the individual's needs with most students taking four AS levels and some five or three, and this policy has obviously paid dividends."