Hundreds of A-Level students in West Wiltshire are celebrating as they look to the future after opening their long-awaited A-Level results on Thursday.

Pupils gathered at schools from as early as 8am to see if they had got the grades they need to take up places at increasingly competitive universities. They were also joined by year twelve pupils who were collecting AS results which will take them in to their second year of A-Level courses.

A massive 40 per cent increase in people applying for university places – who hope to escape huge hikes in tuition fees by starting courses this September – has put more pressure on students to get the results they need.

Megan Bond, 19, a student at John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge, said: “Two years ago I got two E grades and a D. Now I’m so pleased to say that I’ve come out with an A* and two As.

“At my last school I just didn’t get the support I needed but the staff here have really made it happen for me. I’ve turned my life around.”

Fellow student Lizzy Perkins, 18, from Bratton, scooped two A*s and 2As and has won a place at the prestigious Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge where she will study archaeology and anthropology. She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be going to Cambridge. I’ll be really sad to leave the school though because I have had an amazing time.”

Headteacher Andy Packer said: “This year group has been really special to me as they started at the school in the same year that I did so it is wonderful to see them do so well. This is a moment not just for them though, but for their parents too. I know so many of their parents very well and I know it will be really very special for them.”

St Augustine’s Catholic College, also in Trowbridge, enjoyed an overall pass rate of 99.2 per cent. Headteacher Joe Alsop said: “I am very proud to report that our results continue to be outstanding with 67 per cent of grades attained at A* to B. This is an increase on last year and it demonstrates the hard work from students and staff alike for the past two years.”

Student Ben Yates, who triumphed with an A* and three As, said: “I’ll be heading to Exeter University to study economics. I am over the moon about the results because I got all the grades I needed and wanted.”

Forty per cent of pupils at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon achieved all their grades at A* to B, with two students who gained all three of their A-levels at A* and 13 students who gained three or more of their A-levels at A or A* grade.

The Trowbridge Sixth Form Centre, with A-Level students from Clarendon College and John of Gaunt, achieved a pass rate of 98 per cent and a A*-B pass rate of 42.5 per cent.

The Corsham School, which came out as Britain’s best comprehensive school in value added rankings last year, has achieved a 99 per cent pass rate this year, with 52 per cent of students getting a B or above.

Matravers School in Westbury enjoyed a 97 per cent pass rate with 55 per cent of students achieving A*-C. They also saw a seven per cent increase in the pass rate at AS level with 86 per cent making the grade.

Stonar School, near Melksham, topped West Wiltshire’s results table with a 100 per cent pass rate. The school had 34.1 per cent of passes at A* and A grades and 83.5% at A* to C grades.

Kingdown School in Warminster had a pass rate of 98 per cent, with 27 per cent of entries at A* or A grade and 78 per cent of entries are at C grade or above.