MARLOW pupils woke up yesterday to some of the best A level results in Bucks.

Students flocked to Sir William Borlase's Grammar and Great Marlow schools to collect their results yesterday morning.

No details were available of Great Marlow results as we went to press, but it was all smiles at Sir William Borlase's in West Street.

Crowds of worried looking pupils queued before the doors opened at 10am. Most left screaming with delight at their results.

Tearful Catherine Marston, 18, said: "These are tears of excitement and relief. I got lower than I was predicted but I have still got to Brighton University."

Kendra Lock was ecstatic with her three Bs that also secured her a place at Brighton University.

She said: "I can't believe it. I have got much more than I expected and I was predicted."

The school broke its own record for A level passes at A and B grades.

Headmaster Dr Peter Holding praised his students' efforts and rubbished critics who say exams are easier.

He said: "There were an awful lot of very happy people here this morning celebrating well-deserved results. Particular mention must go our Art and English department, 15 out of 17 got As in Art and 16 out 21 got As in English.

"We don't see any evidence A levels are getting easier. I think teachers and pupils work hard and they get well deserved results."

The school's pass rate of 97.9 per cent was above the national average of 89.8 per cent.

John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe also achieved record grades and headteacher Stephen Nokes said: "We had 118 candidates and a 94 per cent pass rate. We are very pleased and our A/B pass rate is up six per cent on last year to 48 per cent."

Girls at Wycombe Abbey School achieved a 100 per cent pass rate at A level and a 67.8 per cent pass rate at grade A. At Wycombe High School headteacher Liz Duffy was overjoyed at pupils' achievements as 25 students achieved three grade As and three gained four grade As.

Sir William Ramsay School in Rose Avenue, Hazlemere, had 33 AS level candidates who achieved an overall pass of 86 per cent with 55 per cent at A and B grades.

Owain Mulligan, a student at Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, had one of the top marks in A level English out of 11,100 candidates in the country, as well as gaining grades in three other subjects. He will read Modern History at Oxford.