STUDENTS at two Oxfordshire schools had more reason than most to celebrate A-Level results - their grades put them in the UK's top 50 comprehensive schools.

Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, and Faringdon Community College, Faringdon, were listed in The Independent's league table at fifth and 21st respectively.

Cherwell achieved an overall pass rate of 98.9 per cent with 85.1 per cent passing with grades A to C.

Headteacher Jill Judson said: "We really have done very well. We are delighted. We are particularly pleased with the percentage of A and B grades."

Of her 181 A-Level students, 69 per cent achieved A or B grades and 41 per cent earned themselves A grades.

Last year the school, which has 1,700 pupils on roll, had a 98 per cent overall pass rate with 74.8 per cent at A to C.

Mrs Judson said this improvement was "a tribute to everyone's hard work".

She said: "We are obviously pleased for the students, who have worked exceptionally hard.

"Praise is also due to the staff's hard work and encouragement. We have some extremely well qualified and professional staff who worked closely with the students. Many students are also fortunate to have terrific parental support."

Among the top performers was Nimrod Gileadi, who despite only coming to Britain from Israel two years ago and having to improve his English, bagged four As in computing, physics, maths and further maths. Other pupils who all achieved four As were Jiexi Zhao, Luke Barbanneau, Catherine Crosse and Nick Hartley.

"It makes me incredibly cross when I hear the same things said year after year about A-Levels becoming easier," said Mrs Judson.

"If results improve all we hear is how standards must be dropping, but I actually think A-Levels are harder now than when I took them."

Mrs Judson, who has been headteacher at Cherwell for three-and-a-half years and teaching since 1972, said: "League tables are not the most important thing. Exams are just one part of the students' education. It is important they have the opportunities to do what they want to do.

"Most of our students have had no trouble going on to take up places at their first choice university."

The school's catchment area includes North Oxford, Cutteslowe, Marston and Wolvercote.

Mrs Judson added: "This is the most comprehensive catchment area with which I have worked. We do get a lot of high fliers, but we get plenty of others too. We are a very inclusive school."

At Faringdon Community College, the 26 students who sat A-Levels achieved an overall pass rate of 99.1 per cent and an A-C pass rate of 76.8 per cent.

Cheney School in Headington saw nine students gain three or more A grade passes as it stormed to a record pass rate of 97.3 per cent, with just over half of the results at grades A and B and 74.4 per cent at A to C.

Andrew Bell, Gregory Gardner and Emily Hewlett were the top performers, each gaining grade As in four subjects.

Headmaster Alan Lane said: "We're delighted with these excellent results, especially the record pass rate."

At Oxford Community School headteacher Steve Lunt said he was "very pleased" with his pupils' 89 per cent pass rate. A to C grade passes were achieved by 49 per cent of pupils.

He said: "The students have worked very hard and a significant number are going to university as a result of their hard work.

"I'm particularly pleased with the results for business enterprise courses."

There was plenty of cause for celebration at Marlborough School in Woodstock, where 99 per cent of pupils passed their exams.

Lucy Wheatley and Thomas Callicott were among the school's top performers.

Miss Wheatley achieved A grades in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry and will go to Trinity College, Oxford, to read biochemistry in October.

Mr Callicott achieved A grades in maths, further maths and physics and a B grade in economics and will go to Durham to read maths.

In Witney, Wood Green School saw its best results.

Headteacher Cynthia Savage said: "Ten students have achieved three or more grade As with 100 per cent of students achieving two or more A-Level passes."

In Abingdon, the 14-19 Partnership, which includes John Mason, Larkmead, Abingdon and Witney College and Fitzharrys, a record number of pupils secured places at their first choice university with an overall pass rate of 92 per cent.

The Didcot Sixth Form, which comprises teenagers from both Didcot Girls' School and St Birinus School, achieved a 99 per cent overall pass rate.

The pass rate for A to C grades was 69 per cent.

Fifteen students got three or more A grades including Maria Balashova and Rachel McAdam - who both gained four As. Miss Balashova, who also gained an A in Russian last year, was delighted with her results and said: "I didn't expect it, but I was hoping."

She gained the As in chemistry, biology, physics and maths and is now heading to Cambridge to study natural sciences.

Another remarkable success story from the sixth form was Ivan Rabodzeenko.

He moved to Didcot from his native St Petersburg just four years ago. And despite the language barrier he notched five A-Levels - two As, two Bs and a D.

St Birinus headteacher Chris Bryant said this year's results were a record for the sixth form.

At Bicester Community College, the outstanding performance was by Khushnuda Zukhurova, who gained six A-Levels, including five A grades.

Fourteen students gained the equivalent of four A-Levels.

Kevin Burrell, deputy head at Wallingford School, where the pass rate was 99.4 per cent, said: "We are delighted at the best results we have achieved."