OXFORDSHIRE pupils proved to be bright sparks as the county recorded a bumper crop of top A-Level results.

Early indications suggested half the exams taken by county pupils received A or B grades, a rise of about two per cent, and 98 per cent passed the tests.

Seven state schools in the county had seven or more straight A students – Wheatley Park School, The Marlborough School, in Woodstock, Chipping Norton School, Bartholomew’s School, in Eynsham, Lord Williams’s School, in Thame, King Alfred’s College, in Wantage, and Wood Green School, in Witney.

Bartholomew’s School headteacher Andrew Hamilton said: “We are really very pleased with the excellent examination results our students have achieved.

“They are a tremendous tribute to the dedication, commitment and sheer hard work demonstrated by our students and teachers working together in the educational partnership that has generated such positive results.”

Ollie Rogers, of Freeland, achieved two As in English and film studies and a B in history.

The 18-year-old said: “I didn’t expect to do so well so I’m happy with what I have got. My parents were very happy with me.“ At Henry Box School, 54 per cent of pupils got As and Bs, and four secured places at Oxford or Cambridge.

Headteacher Nicola Edmondson said: “We are delighted with the results, which were even better than we expected.

“It pays tribute to the hard work of the students and the staff that have put so much into making sure everyone gets their first choice of university.”

Charlotte Foster, a pupil at Our Lady’s, Abingdon, received three As – despite missing six months of the school year due to glandular fever. The 18-year-old from Bampton said: “I can’t believe it. I didn’t expect to do this well. I am so shocked, but my parents are over the moon.”

At Abingdon School, 59 boys got three or more A grades, and 11 achieved five of the top grade.

One of them was Mark Scott, 17, from East Hanney, who got As in chemistry, physics, biology, maths and further maths and will study chemistry at Oxford.

He said: “I am extremely pleased with my results. I worked hard and this has paid off.”

Next year’s head boy and girl at Sibford School, near Banbury, Tom Roger and Alex Jardine, will start the year with one A-Level A grade in the bag, both having taken an exam a year early.

Bicester Community College received its best ever A-Level results, with 36 per cent of pupils achieving As or Bs and 66 per cent getting grades A-C.

Javlon Zukhurov was the school’s top performer with four As. Meanwhile, Alex Smith, 18, took home three As and a B, along with an A grade AS-Level.

She said: “I was a little nervous about chemistry, but I got an A. I have been working hard for the past two years.”

Sixteen pupils at the combined Didcot Sixth Form achieved three As, while John Salmons, Charlotte Steers and Jasmine Tucker managed to get four.

St Birinus headteacher Chris Bryan said: “We have always had a high pass rate but this year we have all been striving to increase the percentage of top grades. These results are very impressive.”

At Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, the number of A and B grades increased to 45.5 per cent, with three students gaining three As. Headteacher Steve Bizley said: “It is important to recognise the achievement of all our students and the dedication of the teachers.

“Our aim is to continue to improve and help every learner to achieve their potential.”

Michael Waine, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools, said: “We are especially pleased for the great number of students who have attained some superb results – a testament to their commitment and hard work.

“The county council will now look in close detail at the overall picture and draw conclusions about the 2009 results in comparison with the national picture.”