Wells A-Level focus: Early results release for Blue School students

Wells Blue School was open bright and early to give out A-level results today in an effort to help students cope with the record demand for university places.

Many teenagers were delighted with the results they had received, some surpassing their expectations, but those who just missed the grades faced an anxious wait.

The admissions service Ucas had to temporarily take down part of its website because of a fourfold increase in people wanting to track the progress of their applications.

The rush is because of the number of school-leavers prepared to skip their gap year, wanting to get in to higher education before fees go up from just over £3,000 a year to £9,000 annually from 2012.

The School will soon be releasing an update on how students faired but initial indications are very encouraging.

Across the Uk, almost one in twelve entries were awarded an A* and a further 27 per cent an A, the same as last year. The overall pass rate has also increased to an impressive 97.8 per cent.

Universities Minister David Willetts yesterday suggested that tougher, more traditional A-Levels should be awarded more 'tariff points' for admission policy but it may be a little too late for such a shift.

Well done to all those who achieved the grades they needed to and if you didn't, there are plenty of options available to you, see our guide here on what to do next.