Worthing's students celebrate A-level success - PICTURES

Eager teenagers flocked to their schools and colleges in the rain, desperate to rip open their results and see if all the hard work had paid off '” and for most it had.

Students at Worthing College in Bolsover Road achieved excellent results, with a pass rate of 97.1 per cent. 42 per cent of students were awarded A to B grades and students who studied vocational courses got a pass rate of 98.2 per cent.

Delighted Peter Corrigan, the principal, said: "This is a great day of celebration for the individual successes of Worthing College students. The college has recorded excellent results in the examinations taken.

"This is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of students and college staff. Students will now be moving onto the next stages of their careers in higher education, training, or the world of work. We wish them every success in their future lives.

"The college is now one of the highest performing institutions in West Sussex."

Fiona Kerr was delighted with her four As in maths, accounting, economics and law. She said: "It is amazing and I am really chuffed. I was hoping for these results."

Jemma Lee achieved three As in psychology, English literature and history and is now going to university to study law.

Hannah Smith got three As in history, government and politics and English literature. She is now off to Oxford University.

Melissa Ittoo was awarded two As in government and politics and media studies, and two Bs in French and English language. They came as a surprise and she is going to Southampton university to study politics.

Charlie Refoy shed tears of happiness after getting two As in maths and statistics and two Bs in further maths and physics. She has already started a job as a trainee chartered accountant.

Aziz Elgindi got two As and a B plans on taking a gap year and then studying medical science at university. He said he was "ecstatic."

His friend Joe Zarins-Tutt was equally as happy with his two As in biology and geology and a B in geography. He plans on going to university, but may defer it for a year.

Jasmine Carcary is going to study holistic therapy after getting an A in politics and government and three Bs in media studies, performance studies and English language.

Isobel Amey is going to Southampton University to study physiotherapy after getting an A in sociology and two Bs in psychology and biology.

Isabelle Long got one A in statistics and two Bs in art and ICT.

Emma Henderson was happy with an A in English, a B in psychology and a C in IT. She said: "It was a nervous wait." She is going to study archaeology at Bristol University.

Amelia Pettitt was awarded three Bs in health and social care and art. She is going to study to be a school teacher.

Gemma Parkinson got two Bs in health and social care and a D in sociology and is off to do nursing.

Friends Laura McLaughlin and Natalie Dore got the same results '” two Bs in health and social care and a D in psychology.

Verity Bushby got a distinction in media studies, a B in textiles and two Cs in photography and art and design. Her next stop is Northbrook to a foundation course in art.

Julien Pirrie got a distinction in media studies, a B in photography and a C in graphics. He is going to study film and production at York.

Sophie Hall was awarded three Cs and if going to study geography at Royal Holloway.

Alex West got a B in English, a C in art and design and a D in business studies. He is going study English literature at Winchester. He said: "I am very relieved."

Mike Davies got two Cs and an E. He is going to study aeronautical engineering.

Over at Our Lady of Sion in Gratwicke Road, the 24 upper sixth students achieved exactly the same pass rate of grades A to C as last year, 92.3 per cent. The A to B pass rate was 80.8 per cent and 49 students got A grades.

Peter Baker, careers coordinator, at Sion, said: "We wish our upper sixth students every success as they prepare for the next phase of their lives, with the vast majority looking forward to taking up their first choice university places."

Robert Negri, 18, got some of the best results in the country. He gained five As in physics, chemistry, biology, maths and further maths but said he was always "fairly confident" he would do well. In October he will begin a civil engineering degree at Imperial College, London.

Head boy, Pye Nyunt, 18, of Beeches Avenue, Worthing, got three As in economics and business, english literature and IT. He will start at Aston Business School in Birmingham this autumn to read business and management.

Richard Kimber, 18, of Golden Avenue in East Preston got full marks in three of his six English modules scoring and overall scored an impressive 589 out of 600 marks. He got three As in English literature, French and German.

He is going to Ghana for ten days to work as a volunteer before taking a gap year working in a ski resort in France. Next year he plans to study English and French at Southampton University.

Nick Scullion, 18, from Broadwater got three As in English literature, classics and psychology. He will start at Warwick University in October studying English and Italian literature.

Richard Lowes, 18, of Victoria Road, Worthing, got three As in chemistry, biology and geography. He is going to study geography and environmental management at Exeter University in October.

Benjamin Childs, 18, from West Grinstead got an A in design technology, a B in IT and a C in geography and said he was "chuffed". After taking a gap year to go snowboarding he will start a course in product design at Nottingham Trent University.

Clapham student Ollie Rogers, 18, got an A in PE and two Cs in IT and psychology. He will begin an events management course at Bournemouth University in September.

As one of the youngest in the year Chris Dykes, 17, from Broadwater said he was pleased with the three Cs he got in biology, psychology and history. He will go to Sussex University to study computer science after taking a gap year.

David Harmshaw, 18, of Steep Lane, Findon, got two Cs in maths and business and a U in classics and said he had a feeling he might have messed up the exam.

He said: "I'm not too disappointed as I can still do the apprenticeship I want." He will study to be an accountant with Worthing based firm Ayres Bright Vickers.

Three students from Worthing, but attend BHASVIC in Brighton and Hove, achieved three or more A grades at A level.

Lauren Bravo, the Worthing Herald student columnist, got four As in drama and theatre studies, English literature, media studies and psychology.

Three A grades at A level were achieved by: Natalie James got three As in biology, chemistry, maths, perspectives on science and Lisa Whiting got the same grades in chemistry, geography and maths.

** For more results-day photos, go to www.shorehamtoday.co.uk for Steyning Grammar pictures or see the Lancing section of this site for Lancing College pictures **