Just A-wesome!
At Royal Forest of Dean College pupils didn't just come top of the class, they were top of the country.
Matt Clarke, 18, from Coleford was one of the top five nationally in applied ICT, for which he got an A. He got another A in psychology and B in English.
He said: "I can't believe it.
"I always enjoyed ICT. I went for it with my A-levels and the hard work paid off."
Matt, who is going to the University of Gloucestershire to study ICT, disputes that A-levels are getting easier.
"I'd like to see the people who say exams are getting easier have a go," he said.
Tom Brooks, 18, from Ruspidge, is an example of how results can be turned around.
Following his AS-levels his marks were so low that Tom realised he needed to put more effort in.
He redid his music technology A-level course in a year, working after college and in his lunch breaks and got a B.
Tom also got Cs in media studies and critical thinking and a D in business. His efforts were rewarded with a £1,500 scholarship to study live event technology at Glamorgan University.
Caroline Costley did not sleep the night before results day as she was so on edge.
The 18-year-old got As in English, media studies and drama and a C in history.
Caroline, who wants to be a professional singer/songwriter, will go to the City of Bristol University to study drama.
Caroline said: "I'm surprised and pleased. I killed myself working for these exams."
Cinderford's Fiona Chisman, 18, got straight As in A-level psychology, sociology and law and is going to university in Nottingham to do psychology.
Kelly Fleetwood, 18, from Ruardean, got As in media, sociology and psychology and a B in French. Kelly will be going to Bournemouth University to do media and advertising.
Equally outstanding is Kit Risbey, 18, who got three As in maths, chemistry and physics.
Kit has obtained a job with the Ministry of Defence.
Overall RFDC had a 98% pass rate with 52% of students getting an A or B grade and 80% achieving an A to C. Out of 22 subjects taken 18 had a 100% pass rates.
Vice principal Janak Patel said: "As staff we are ecstatic. There are huge improvements in the number of high grades achieved by students at RFDC."
Callie Wyman, the Westbury-on-Severn girl who broke her back in a riding accident three weeks ago, has gained two Bs and a C.
The 18-year-old former art and drama student at Newent Community School is still flat out in hospital, but doctors are sure that she will walk again.
Some pupils at Newent Community School could not wait for it to open last Thursday and were there waiting in the early hours.
Head of sixth form Martyn John congratulated them all .
He said: "There has been an increase in the numbers achieving higher grades and nine got straight As.
"We are pleased with the results achieved by all the students. Examining boards are continually raising the bar but the students are continuing to clear it.
"It is a great credit to them all and to the staff who put in so much hard work."
Georgia Wesma, who lives in Market Square, Newent, achieved two As and a C.
She said: "I'm going to do a foundation course at the University of Gloucestershire to keep the costs down."
Alice Earll, from Kempley, got straight As in music, business and history
"I've got a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and I want to become a professional musician," she said.
Wyedean Sixth Form Centre achieved its best ever results with a pass rate of 98.9% and an increase in the percentage of A to B grades. Among the successful students was Oxford applicant Jess Hollies.
The 18-year-old from Boughspring notched up four A grades to achieve her dream of studying law.
"I'm chuffed, I never thought I'd get the grades," said Jess.
Another student who was delighted with their grades was George Maller, who is from Lydney. He had appendicitis during the exams.
He said: "I was revising when I started getting pains. I ignored them and did my sociology exam. Later that evening the full symptoms came and I went into hospital and had my appendix out.
"After that I had ulcers in my throat and tonsillitis so I couldn't eat for a week."
George still got the grades he needed to study psychology and counselling at Worcester University.
Other students to achieve top grades were Grace Jenkins, Kelly McDaid and Jacqui Mustoe who all got three As.
"I was really nervous on Wednesday night and it was worse because I knew I could check them on the internet," said Kelly.
Grace said: "I had to go and open my results on my own and I still felt nervous."
Owen Pearson proved that boys have brains too with four As and Daniel Rigby triumphed with three As and a B.
Head of sixth form Lee Jarvis said: "Wyedean continues to go from strength to strength. We have excellent staff and a good all round support programme here in the sixth form."
Over the border at Monmouth Comprehensive, Forest students also came out trumps.
Anna Dorner from Lydbrook, Ellie Gomery from Coalway, Bethan Monk and David Phelps, who are both from Coleford, achieved As in all their A-levels.
Bethan will be reading Biomedical Science at Cardiff and David will study Natural Sciences at Durham.
Monmouth had a bumper year of results with a 99.2% pass rate and 76% of students gaining the top three grades.
BATTLED THROUGH THE PAIN: George Maller had appendicitis during his exams.
Comment on this story