LOCAL A-level students were celebrating this week with some of the best results ever.
At Godalming College, more than 500 students, many of whom are former pupils of Woolmer Hill and Rodbrough School, gained an unprecedented 99 per cent pass rate.
Among several Oxbridge successes, Kamilla Klepacka, a former Woolmer Hill pupil, achieved three A-levels at A grade in chemistry, mathematics and economics and two AS levels in biology and geography, also at grade A.
Kamilla, 18, from Denbigh Road, who has been awarded a place at Cambridge to study medicine following a gap year, said she was "totally over the moon".
On holiday in Rome last Thursday when the results were announced, Kamilla told The Herald that her her boyfriend sent the fantastic news to her by text.
She is now planning a year off from her studies, working for Youth 2000, a Catholic youth charity and travelling abroad to work in a mission in Belize.
This year's results compare with a national pass rate of 95 per cent and more than 78 per cent of students achieved top grades of A to C, compared with a national average of 67 per cent.
In 34 of the 41 A-level subjects offered by the college, a 100 per cent pass rate was achieved.
David Adelman, principal of Godalming College, said: "I am delighted that once again our students have achieved outstanding results, the best ever achieved by the college.
"These results confirm Godalming College's continuing success as one of the best- performing sixth form colleges in the country and reflect both the hard work of the students and the dedication and professionalism of the staff."
All A-level students at The Royal School in Haslemere were also celebrating a record year in which every girl achieved her first choice university place.
In all, 78 per cent of candidates achieved the higher grades at A level with a total pass rate of 98 per cent beating last year's pass rate by 4.7 per cent.
Headmistress, Lynne Taylor-Gooby, said: "These are outstanding results and it is really wonderful to see every girl achieving her first choice of university."
Royal School girls have chosen a wide range of subjects to study at degree level including law, actuarial science, business in property, environmental science, physiotherapy, psychology and American Studies. Universities include the LSE, University of the West Of England, Swansea, and Nottingham.
Lynne Taylor-Gooby concluded: "I cannot recall any other year in my career when every single candidate has achieved the grades required for the first-choice university. It has been a very happy day."
Medicine, music, modern languages and international relations are just some of the degree courses that Wispers' year 13 pupils are commencing at universities, including St Andrew's, University College, London, and Edinburgh.
This year's A2 level candidates scored a 100 per cent pass rate in established academic subjects.
Headmaster Henry Beltran said: "One of our goals at Wispers is to encourage the pupils to be independent and creative thinkers. These sound results reflect a proactive combination of good teaching and diligence on the part of the A- level students. We are all very proud of their achievements."
Year 12 pupils also scored an impressive set of AS results. Special praise goes to Maggie Tsui who scored an A grade in mathematics AS after only one year of study, gaining 582 out of a possible 600.
This good result was in addition to her achieving A grade passes in biology, chemistry, and physics.
Speaking this week Mrs Taylor-Gooby reflected on the latest results from the Royal School and the extra pressures put on students by AS level
examinations. "I think the extra pressure that it puts on sixth formers is universally condemned.
" Half a term in the lower sixth is spent taking exams and study leave; it eats into learning time although some are glad of the chance to get half of the A-level completed at the end of the first year."
And, believed Mrs Taylor-Gooby: "There is no doubt that 14 - 18 year-olds as a whole are seriously over-examined and in some cases the stress is very destructive."
But she added: "You can't go backwards. there is already an appraisal system in place and I think that should be extended."
Mrs Taylor-Gooby said that more thought should be given to a system that is internally marked and externally moderated where student progress from AS level on to A-level on the advice of their teachers.
She concluded that as a teacher of 30 years' standing, the working practices of teachers were "unrecognisable" by today's standards.
"With league targets and other measures, teachers work phenomenally hard.
"There is no one in the staff room at lunch times and criticism about the dumbing down of A-levels is an insult to teachers and their hard-working pupils."
Students from Alton College were also in jubilant mood with the college retaining its position as one of the best performing sixth form colleges in the country with a pass rate of 100 per cent in 24 subjects at A-level.
With an entry of more than 600 students, including many from Bohunt School in Liphook individual successes included Sasha Armour from Headley Down. A former pupil of The Royal School in Haslemere, Sasha achieved four A grades in biology, chemistry, mathematics and general studies at A-level.
She will be going to Edinburgh University to study Japanese.
From Bohunt School, Liphook, Stephen Pettitt gained an astonishing five A grades at A-level and an A grade at AS in law.
He also took the new higher-level examination, the Advanced Extension Award, in biology and chemistry and gained merits.
Stephen is going to Cambridge to read natural sciences.
AS level results at Alton College brought a record 110 students gaining at least two grade As each, and 27 students achieved As in four or more subjects each.
"I congratulate everyone on these results," said Michael Gray, the principal of Alton College.