Town teenagers proved they are top of the class after achieving some of the best ever A-level results.

Teachers and staff at South Bromsgrove High School were thrilled with another bumper crop of exam results, which were released last Thursday.

Headteacher Phil McTague described his school's 99 per cent pass rate as "phenomenal".

"We had our biggest ever number of pupils taking A-levels, with just over 150 students," he said.

Elisabeth Fox gained four As and a B grade and will go on to study French at Warwick University, while Vicky Wood earned a place on a psychology course at Cardiff University after achieving five As.

Waseley Hills High School headteacher David Thurbon praised the efforts of his pupils, who achieved a 90 per cent pass rate, with a 100 per cent success rate for vocational courses.

"Individually there were a number of students who made excellent progress and achieved outstanding results," he said.

The independent Bromsgrove School excelled once again with a 100 per cent pass rate. More than 60 pupils achieved straight As in three or more subjects.

Headmaster Chris Edwards called it a "proud, if not astonishing day" for the school.

"Never have so many pupils achieved straight A grades," he said.

He also praised students who had not achieved A and B grades.

"Not everybody can be academically brilliant, but with guts and goals, anybody can fulfil their potential."

Richard Gagen and Nicola Gale, from North Bromsgrove High, earned themselves places at Oxford and Cambridge respectively after gaining straight As in four subjects.

The School Drive school achieved a 97 per cent pass rate at grades A to E.

Deputy head Anita Baxter said: "It's an exceptional set of results and we are above the national average.

"Even more pleasing is that we exceeded expectations. We are definitely a school on the up."

Staff and pupils at NEW College were celebrating a 92 per cent pass rate, including a 100 per cent pass rates in geography and chemistry. Spokesman Jeff Caseley said: "We are particularly happy with the results for geography and chemistry as they are perennially difficult subjects."