A COLLECTIVE sigh of relief could be heard from schools across Watford as A-level students received their results yesterday (Thursday).

As national statistics indicate a 0.2 per cent increase in the number of students achieving grades A to E, taking the national average to 87.8 per cent, students from South West Hertfordshire are exceeding all expectations.

The headteacher of Rickmansworth School, Mr Hugh Forsyth, was one of many headteachers celebrating the achievements of his students.

He said: "I am delighted. It is a record year for us. We have achieved an overall pass rate of 96 per cent, which is very good.

"I am particularly pleased with the number of high grades as this will matter for the people going to university. In fact, 13 students got straight A's."

Sinead Murphy, aged 18, from Watford, was one such pupil, gaining A grades in English, French, politics and classics.

She will be taking up a place at Worcester College, Oxford, in October where she will be studying law.

She said: "I didn't think that I would do so well. It is so fantastic.

"My friends all matched their offers; they did really well.

"But now I am going home to ring my relatives and then I am off down the pub."

Mr Forsyth, commenting on Sinead's success, said: "We have always had every confidence in Sinead's abilities."

Every school has a success story to tell but it was the words of headteacher Mr Jonathon Gabitass of Merchant Taylors School, Moor Park, that best described the feelings of many teachers and pupils on Thursday.

He said: "The students could not have done any better. There has been an awful lot of work and anxiety and you see what the grades really mean to them.

"Some of the best results were for the boys who were not going to get five A's but have worked their socks off for their grades. It is just as big an achievement."

The Merchant Taylors school had a total of five boys each gaining five A grades who will be taking up places at Oxford and Cambridge.

The headteacher of Kings Langley School Mr Alick Burge, said: "The students have done very much as predicted and the majority have got the places they wanted.

"I think there has been a good atmosphere here this morning."

For Immanuel College, in Bushey, which was established just two years ago, A-level results remain a novelty.

But, headteacher Mrs Myrna Jacobs was particularly pleased this year to find out that for the first time two of her pupils have got places at Cambridge.

Head boy, Oliver Sanders, aged 18, from Bushey, will be joined by fellow student Daniel Samsom, also aged 18, from Totteridge when term begins in October.

A-levels remain a bench mark for many students who will leave the security of school life to enter either the work place, university or take a year out to travel and learn more about themselves and what direction they want their lives to take.

Alex Thomsett, 18, of Watford, has been planning her next move for the past seven years.

After receiving confirmation of straight A's, Alex will be attending the Royal Veterinary College, London, in the autumn.

She said: "I have built up to this and I am in shock." I have only just stopped crying.

"I have told my parents and they are really pleased."

Alex will be just one of many students out celebrating their success in the pubs and clubs of Watford this weekend.

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