EXCITED students were today celebrating record-breaking A-Level results.

For many of the aspiring youngsters, the grades are the key to university and college places around the country.

They were eagerly arriving at their schools and colleges to find out how well they did in the exams, taken in June.

Year 12 students were also collecting their AS-level results, which help determine what subjects they will continue to A-level.

The Local Education Authority is hoping that this year's results will build on the Dorset's past success.

Stephen Prewett, head of pupil and school improvement, said: "We are confident of continued success by Dorset pupils and we wish them all well."

Results for the county will not be released until November but schools and colleges have been working out their own statistics today.

Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester was celebrating an above average 98 per cent pass rate, with 75 per cent of grades at A to C.

Budmouth Technology College students are celebrating a 97.2 per cent pass rate while Weymouth College scored 96 per cent.

Other schools and colleges in the area were still collating statistics and were expected to announce their overall results later today.

Coun Angus Campbell, Dorset County Council's education spokesman, said: "The exam performance of young people in Dorset is above average, and we must continually strive for yet higher standards to give all students the best possible start in life."

Nationally, the overall A-level pass rate was 96 per cent, a 0.6 per cent increase on last year, and an improvement in boys results narrowed the gap between the sexes.

There was also a 0.8 per cent rise in the number of students gaining A grades to 22.4 per cent. The overall AS pass rate was 86.9 per cent.

David Miliband, secretary of state for school standards, said: "These results are built on the hard work of students, schools and colleges."

* A full round-up of results will appear in tomorrow's Echo.