At Halesowen College students kept up the good work with their A level performances matching those of last year.

Ninety-seven per cent of students achieved an A level pass in a range of 38 subjects.

Sixteen subjects achieved a 100 per cent pass rates. Those were archaeology, art, mathematics, dance, drama and theatre studies, economics, English language and literature, film studies, geology, geography, graphics, history, media, religious studies, technology, and textiles.

Principal Keith Bate paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of staff.

He said: "I would like to stress the important role staff played in supporting the hard work of students in achieving their just results.

"The highly focused student support at the College continues to pay dividends meaning that more and more young people are progressing to higher education."

A statement released by the college stated: "Once again the college has maintained its high levels of performance reflecting its leading role in the delivery of A levels in the area."

Individual successes included Robert Hand, aged 18, from Halesowen, a former Leasowes school student who achieved Bs in history, law and economics. He is off to study history at Newman College.

Ross Hughes, aged 18, an ex-Earls High student, from Halesowen, gained As in economics, design and technology, and history and a B in English Literature. He is taking a gap year before university.

Zaheer Mann, aged 18, a former Leasowes student from Blackheath, gained As in accountancy and maths and a B in human biology. He is going to study accountancy at City University.

Chris Wallace, aged 22, from Quinton was one of the top five statistics candidates in the country. He gained four grade A passes in chemistry, mathematics, physics and statistics. The former Hagley RC student is off to read maths at Manchester University.

He said: "I'm absolutely amazed at the results.

"I never dreamed I would get four As and I still can't believe it."

Kayleigh Mills, aged 19, from Netherton, gained an A in geology and Bs in environmental science, chemistry, and IT.

The former Castle High pupil is off to study geology at Cardiff.

She said: "I'm delighted with my results and can't wait to tell my family, they will all be really pleased."

Other students with high A level grade passes included Anna Chapman (formerly Heathfield High School), Niloofar Latif (Langley High School), Laura Moon (Summerhill School), Maria Syropoulou (Holly Lodge High School) and Matthew Williams (Bristnall Hall High School).

AS results improved for the third year running with pass rates increasing by two per cent.

Forty AS subjects were on offer with a 40 per cent record increase in entries.

The new collegiate programme started in September 05 aimed at able and highly motivated students has celebrated over 90 per cent pass rate with the majority of students gaining high grades.

n Talented teenagers from a Cradley Heath college are celebrating after making the grade in their A-level results.

An intelligent group of 66 students at Heathfield Foundation Technology College were delighted after a huge 97 per cent pass rate across all subjects.

More than half of the students will now go on to university with the majority scoring their first choice places.

This years tally equals last August's scores which saw 98 per cent of students pass across all subjects.

Amy Stocking, aged 18, was one of the most successful students scoring two As and two Bs. She now plans to go to Lancaster University to do a degree in Creative Writing.

Principal John Parker said: "We are all pleased that the hard work of students and staff has been rewarded with another set of outstanding results.

"It is particularly pleasing that so many students have achieved such high grades and the amount of students going on to higher education and university is also impressive."

n Sandwell College's delighted principal has said she is "proud to be its leader" after students recorded 100 per cent pass rates in eight subjects.

The college, which has a campus on the Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, saw students notch up maximum pass rates in eight of the 11 subjects offered at the site.

Principal Val Bailey said: "These pass rates clearly show the brilliant calibre of our students.

"Much credit, of course, goes to our equally outstanding staff team without whom this excellent standard would not be possible.

"I'm really proud to be leader at this college where I can rely on my brilliant workforce."