IT’S A new and improved year for A-level results with three Southampton colleges celebrating a 100 per cent pass rate – despite “significant” changes with the new “more rigorous” system.

This year pupils had just one exam at the end of the year instead of the additional one in January.

Southampton students were jumping for joy with an overall pass rate of 97.9 per cent – up from 97.3 per cent last year.

City education boss Cllr Darren Paffey – who spent the day in Southampton University’s clearing office – congratulated the youngsters and said they should be proud. He added: “While we are slightly behind the national pass rate the vast majority of pupils that took exams this year will walk away with one or more A levels to take on to the next stage of their careers. "

He also thanked hard working teachers and said students should be “encouraged” by the wealth of options open to them.

The overall figure for Hampshire showed 99 per cent of pupils getting A-E – with many students in Hampshire also earning strong results for advanced level technical and general applied qualifications.

The provisional results – which are subject to appeals – show the percentage of A-levels graded A* or A has increased to 26 per cent – up one per cent from last year.

Councillor Peter Edgar said the summer’s results were “a reflection of students’ hard work, and the benefit of the high quality post-16 education and training that we have in Hampshire”.

He added: “It’s particularly pleasing to see a high percentage of Hampshire students achieving the highest grades.”

Staff at both Southampton and Solent universities were busy manning the phones so those with unexpected grades anxiously called up to grab a place on a course.

As previously reported, no colleges in Fareham offer A-levels, while Eastleigh, City and Totton colleges in Southampton focus on vocational courses for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Principal of City College Sarah Stannard said it was “important” to recognise the achievements of those studying for technical qualifications.

% pass rate A*-E

2017 2016

The Arnewood School 100 100

Barton Peveril College 98.3 98

Brockenhurst College 97.5 99

Bitterne Park Sixth Form 96 100

Itchen College 97 97

King Edwards VI 100 N/A

Richard Taunton Sixth Form 97 98

St Anne's Catholic School 100 98

Peter Symonds College 99 99