SCHOOLS and colleges reported improved A-Level results as nervous youngsters got their hands on their exam scores.

Headteachers praised hard-working students amid a UK drop in A* and A grades, the first time in more than two decades.

Of Banbury School’s 105 students, 22 per cent got those top grades, the same as last year, while 46 per cent got A*-B, up from 41 per cent.

Some 76 per cent got A*-C, up from 66 per cent last year, helping the school achieve its best ever results.

Executive principal Dr Fiona Hammans said: “The number of A* grades has increased significantly this year demonstrating high-quality teaching, but most importantly, impressive effort throughout the courses and full preparation for the exams from the students themselves. “The community should be proud of their achievements.” Among the top performers was Ben James, who is to study medicine at the University of Leicester, after getting A*s in maths, chemistry and biology.

The 18-year-old said: “I worked hard and if you work hard you get your just rewards. “Medicine is a brilliant career, there is so much variance and opportunity.” He will be joined at the university by Shannon Boland, 18, set to study psychology after getting an A* in the subject and a B in English literature and language and a C in biology.

She said: “I want to be a therapist, I want to help people. The school was really good, I made a lot of friends there.” Neighbouring Blessed George Napier Catholic School saw a boost in A*-A results, from 28 per cent last year to 35 per cent this year. Its A*-B score was up four per cent to 59 per cent and 99 per cent got A*-E grades.

Deputy headteacher Clare Smith said: “It is wonderful, we are really delighted. The 59 per cent is a school record. “It is a tremendous amount of hard work, we have put a lot of additional work in, a lot of intervention.” Yet while youngsters were “very motivated” by university, the number applying was down as they face rising fees, she said.

She said: “It is definitely because of the fees and the anxiety of leaving university with enormous debts.” Oxford & Cherwell Valley College reported strong results at its Broughton Road, Banbury and Oxford campuses. Some 47 per cent got A*-B, up from 40 per cent in 2011, while 76 per cent got A*-C, up six per cent.

Principal Sally Dicketts said: “I am thrilled that our students have done so well, and in particular that our A*-B results are up by seven per cent. “It is so important now for young people not only to pass their A-Levels but also to achieve high grades.” It will hold an advice day at Banbury today and tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. For information call 01865 551556.

Some 23 per cent of Chenderit School’s 136 students got A or A*, while 82 per cent got A*-C. Headteacher Graham Tyrer said: “These results represent such hard work and commitment. “It means the futures our students had dreamed of can now be realised.” North Oxfordshire Academy’s results were not available at the time of going to press.