THERE was no sign of a predicted tougher marking system this year for teenagers who picked up their A-level results at Nailsea School today (Thurs).

Most of the school’s sixth form students beamed happily as they received their target grades which will see them heading off to universities across the country in the Autumn.

Headteacher David New said the students had ‘done very well’, with 26 per cent achieving A and A* grades and 75 per cent scooping A*-C grades.

He said: “The vast majority of students managed to get the university places they wanted, with three of them heading off to Oxford or Cambridge.

“Some individual students may have fallen foul of stricter marking but most of them achieved as well as they expected.

“I’m very pleased – they have been an excellent year group from when they first joined the school and it’s lovely to see them going out on a high and going on to the next stage of their lives.”

The list of high achievers was topped by Sammy Ford who scored an impressive five A*s in maths, further maths, biology, chemistry and physics.

The 18-year-old is off to Oxford University to continue studying maths.

Fellow high-flyers included Thomas Hancock who gained two A*s in maths and physics, an A in further maths and a B in chemistry and will carry on with physics at Bristol University, Caitlin Mcardle who is off to Oxford University to study medicine after gaining an A* and two As in maths, biology and chemistry and Charlotte Matthews who got three As in maths, biology and chemistry and hopes to become a vet after Bristol University.

Other delighted faces included Luke Thompson who amassed three straight As in maths, further maths and business studies and will continue with maths at Warwick University and Chessie Crook who scooped two As in textiles and maths after receiving a 100 per cent mark for both years’ textiles coursework and hopes to become a designer following a fashion course at University of the West of England.

And James Taylor was celebrating after re-taking English, history and business studies and achieving two As and a B following last year’s results of two Bs and a C.

The 19-year-old said he ‘worked really hard’ to combat any stricter marking to improve his grades and as a result of his efforts has won a place at Leicester University.