TODAY’S the day hundreds of students across Hampshire find out how two years of hard work has paid off as they make their way to their schools and colleges to collect A-level results.

But schools are already reporting record achievements as head teachers prepare to congratulate their pupils on their results.

Headmaster of King Edward VI school, Julian Thould, reported “outstanding” results, with 100 per cent of pupils at the Wilton Road site passing their A-levels and seven heading off to Oxford or Cambridge.

Peter Symonds pupils have also excelled with “a truly remarkable performance” by pupils who have bagged themselves 99 per cent pass rate – with “well over a third” of the grades awarded being at A* or A.

Principal of Richard Taunton College, Alice Wrighton, told the Echo “almost 50% of the grades obtained by our students ranked among the highest grades in A Level and BTEC programmes this year, with more A* and Distinction* grades than ever before".

Pupils at RTC will be “sharing” their success in a social media frenzy – with a photo booth specially designed so they can upload their celebration pictures onto their favourite social media site.

But Ms Wrighton added that although many pupils can now access their results online, she prefers them to come into the college where they can celebrate with friends and teachers – and get the help and support they will need if they haven’t quite got their grades. She said: “It’s still about providing that pastoral support.”

She added: “I am hugely proud of them all.”

Many pupils at City College have already received their results, principal Sarah Stannard reporting a 100 per cent pass rate in “many” of their level three technical professional courses including engineering, early years, health and social care, performing arts, production arts, art and design, hairdressing, barbering, travel and tourism and hospitality.

Ms Stannard said: “It’s really important that students who have studied technical professional subjects are recognised for their achievements, as their journey is as challenging and rewarding as it is for those who take A-levels.

“Employers in the Solent region are increasingly saying that there is a shortage of skilled staff. At City College we pride ourselves on preparing our students being ready to make a positive contribution at work”.

Head of sixth form at Bitterne Park School, Paul Overton, said: “Since opening six years ago Bitterne Park Sixth Form College has continued to go from strength to strength, with this year’s students achieving one of our best sets of results: 34 per cent of A-level students achieved A*-B, 72 per cent achieved A*-C and 96 per cent achieved A*-E. 100 per cent of students achieved BTEC

Level 3 qualifications, with a third achieving distinction or above.”