STUDENTS across Carmarthenshire are celebrating their A and AS level results.

Students will have already received provisional Centre Determined Grades from their schools and colleges with their final results published today (Tuesday, August 10).

A total of 99.1% of A level students in Wales achieved A* - E grades and there was an increase in the number of students awarded A* with 21.3% of learners receiving this grade.

At AS level, 37.1% of all grades awarded were A in Wales this year, compared with 29.5% in 2020. The percentage of candidates achieving A - E grades show a small decline, with 96.7% achieving these grades, compared with 98.5% in 2020.

Carmarthenshire Council chiefs have congratulated learners for their hard work and commitment in what has been yet another extraordinary year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Glynog Davies, executive board member for education and children’s services said: “On behalf of the council, I would like to congratulate all our students on their AS and A level results. Once again it has been a very difficult year, but all their dedication and hard work has paid off and they should be extremely proud of themselves."

South Wales Guardian:

Director of education and children’s services Gareth Morgans added: “Congratulations and well done to all our students, this year has been extremely challenging for both students and our teaching staff and I am extremely proud of the dedication and resilience that has been shown by them all. I wish you all the very best for the future.”

Meanwhile outgoing headteacher at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman Nerys Nicholas said: "We are immensely proud of all the work and achievements of our students, especially after such a challenging and disrupted couple of years.

"Staff have worked tirelessly to ensure all students have opportunities for progression to further and higher education. We look forward to seeing what the future will hold for everyone.

"This year, of course, following the continued cancellation of external examinations, grades were awarded through internal school assessment processes, verified by awarding bodies.

"We sincerely thank all involved in this process and appreciate everyone’s hard work and commitment. Above all, we acknowledge the resilience and endeavours of all our students and their families. We congratulate them all on their huge achievements.

"Llongyfarchiadau mawr i chi i gyd ar eich llwyddiannau haeddiannol a phob hwyl i’r dyfodol."

South Wales Guardian:

Praising the pupils at Llandovery College, Warden Dominic Findlay, said: “I am delighted with this year’s results. Students and staff handled the Covid 19 period with much credit ensuring that courses were completed and that the College sent exam boards hugely detailed evidence for each student across all subjects.

“Our top performing students gained 3 A*s, 2 A*s and an A, 1 A* and 2 As and a host of other students achieved a minimum of 2 As and, as a result, we have seen our A*-A percentage hit 51% meaning that half our students results were at the top grade tiers this year. This is a fantastic achievement, especially when you consider their commitment to our substantial co-curricular programme throughout their two years in Sixth Form.

“We are delighted to announce that all our Year 13 students have gained their first choice university place which is a record for the College.

South Wales Guardian:

 “At such an incredibly important moment for all concerned we wish all our leaving Year 13 students the best of luck in the future as they take their next step along their future career path.

“Finally, I would like to thank all staff, students and parents for dealing with the assessment process which required staff to undertake the role of the exam boards creating huge additional workloads at the end of an incredibly challenging year."

GCSE results are being published on August 12.