“FANTASTIC”, “delighted” and “improved” – that was the reaction from head teachers across Southampton as they celebrated results with students, and many of those succeeding will stay in Southampton to study.

Pupils at St Anne’s and King Edward VI had 100 per cent pass rate, while Richard Taunton College and Itchen both reported 97 per cent.

St Anne’s head Lyn Bourne said pupils there were going “from strength to strength” – Ipia Choudhury surpassed expectations to try for Southampton University while classmate Forjana Bagum will take up her offer of law at Southampton.

Standout students at Richard Taunton included Verity Stuart who’s heading to Oxford for English, Thomas Carter, who will go to Oxford for history and Ollie Dowler from Woolston who will go to Southampton University to study musical theatre.

Principal Alice Wrighton said she was “hugely proud” and added: “Some students have overcome personal barriers to learning and achieved amazing success this year, opening doors to careers that they never imagined they could access. Others have perhaps followed a more conventional path but have been stretched and challenged to reach

the very highest levels of academic success.”

Across the river, Bitterne Park Sixth College had one of its best years to date, with 72 per cent earning A*-C, with top performers Ulfat Islam, Jamie Burchett, Kasia Dybisz and Rajvinder Kaur.

Itchen College principal Alex Scott commended students’ hard work and dedication – as well as the support of staff and parents. German student Jam Ries came to the UK to study English and received three As, while future film-maker James Lea earned an A* and two As. He said: “I literally cried when I saw my results.”

Talented Kyron Hamilton has won a scholarship for the prestigious Urdang dance academy in London and was “overjoyed” with the news.

King Edward VI School produced “outstanding” results with 87 per cent of all grades an A*, A or B.