THE release of A-Level results marked the end of an era at Gloucestershire College in the Forest.

The small group of students who picked up their results on Thursday (August 16) were the last cohort to study A-Levels at the Five Acres campus at Berry Hill.

From September students will study at the new college at the Northern Quarter in Cinderford.

Across the Forest and Wye Valley, schools reported some exceptional individual and group results.

Pupils at Wyedean School in Sedbury achieved more than twice the top grades expected.

Head of sixth form Mr Jonathan Lane said analysis had indicated the school would achieve around six per cent at A* or A – but the actual figure was 13 per cent.

Newent School was pleased with its 92 per cent pass rate and with its students, who performed well when compared with their predicted grades.

Amber McKenzie got two starred As, an A and a D and will study an art foundation course in Hereford.

Twin brothers Sam and Tom Isbell will be separated for the first time as they take up their first choice university place – Sam to study psychology at Swansea and Tom is on a sports management course at the University of Gloucestershire.

There were also outstanding Extended Project Qualification results with Dan Rowley completing an ‘artefact’, designing and building a model of a Cumbrian House.

He has received an unconditional offer to study architecture at Plymouth.

Will Hunt completed a project on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in primary school children and will study primary education at the University of Worcestershire after taking a gap year.

This was also the first year of tougher A-Levels in Wales and at Caldicot School 94 per cent of students gained A*-C and 22 per cent got A*-A.

Among the outstanding students was Chloe Lloyd who achieved an A* in history and As in English, French and religious studies. She will study French and politics at Manchester University.

Rhys Wilkins will study biomedical science at Bristol after gaining starred As in biology and chemistry and an A in physics.

Head of Chepstow School Claire Price said it had been another ‘exceptional’ year with 32 per cent of students gaining the top two grades and 13 per cent getting three or more starred As or As.

Joseph Summers achieved four As and will study philosophy and economics at the London School of Economics.

Megan Stewart achieved three starred As and an A and will study economics and international law at Exeter.

At Monmouth Comprehensive, 40 per cent achieved A* or A grades and the overall pass rate was 99 per cent.

Jago Strong-Wright has a place at Cambridge to study natural science, Gurpreet Bal will read engineering at Oxford, Emma Johnston and Alice Glen will study medicine and Josh Isted S’Jacob will take a vocational degree apprenticeship at Exeter.

At Monmouth School for Girls the pass rate at starred A or A was 45.7 per cent – well above the national average of 26.4 per cent — and 75 per cent of all grades were at least a B.

Helena Peacock from Devauden near Chepstow will read English at Cambridge after achieving three starred As.

Head Girl, Erin McInnes Willard, from Shirenewton near Chepstow, was awarded two A*s and an A and will be taking up a liberal arts degree at Durham University.

Isabel Lewis and Francesca Elverson, both of Monmouth, will go on to do science degrees.

Isabel will read physics at Birmingham and Francesca either natural sciences at Durham or chemical physics at Edinburgh.

At Monmouth School for Boys, 43.5 per cent of grades were either A* or A.

Deputy head of school, William Telling of Monmouth, led the way with three A*s and an A to secure his place at University College London to read philosophy, politics and economics – although he is considering a gap year to apply to Oxford.

Head of sixth form Richard Lambert of Shirenewton near Chepstow will read classics at Durham and Monty Rees of Tidenham achieved three As to get a place on Cardiff’s highly-regarded dentistry course.

Samuel Beard of St Briavels will read engineering at Durham and Harry Nock of Coleford will study civil engineering at Bristol and two students from Newland were also among the high achievers.

Wilfred Wright was awarded two starred As, two As and a B while Rees John will read economics at Nottingham thanks to a starred A and a B.