Two Oxford schools reported improved pass rates as A-level students collected their exam results today, writes Madeleine Pennell.

At Oxford High School for Girls, pupils gained a 100 per cent pass rate nudging past last year's figure of 99.54 per cent.

Of the 79 candidates, 64.66 per cent won grade As, with eight pupils getting As in four subjects.

Head Felicity Lusk said: "We have been getting results like these for four years now. They are absolutely terrific, girls and staff. It is a combination of good teaching and motivated girls." Headington Girls School, Oxford, achieved a 98.8 per cent pass rate last year's figure was 97.4 per cent. Of the 89 girls who sat the exams, 40.7 per cent got A grades and 19 got A grades in all the subjects they took. A and B grades were achieved by 68.8 per cent.

Headteacher Hilary Fender said: "We are delighted with the results which reflect a great deal of hard work."

At Magdalen College School, 18 out of 69 boys got As in three subjects, the highest yet.

Pupils at other schools had an anxious time as they waited for their results. Ian Johnson, head of Oxford School, said: "Our hope is that they will all get the results that they are capable of and can get them into higher education or the job market."

Nationally, A-level results have improved for the 18th year running. Although girls scored more A grades in maths, physics, chemistry, biology and business studies, boys got more As in computing, English, French, German and General Studies.