Saffron Walden County High School: The school s high standards were maintained with 41 per cent of all results being graded A and 87 per cent of all grades in the A to C range. There were many outstanding individual performances with 29 students g

Saffron Walden County High School: The school's high standards were maintained with 41 per cent of all results being graded A and 87 per cent of all grades in the A to C range.

There were many outstanding individual performances with 29 students gaining at least three grade As. Toni Jokinen and Corinne West both gained seven grade As and will be taking up places at Cambridge and Oxford respectively, both to study History.

Headteacher John Hartley said: "Inevitably, in the light of the tragic death of Andre Young the atmosphere at school was a little subdued. Nevertheless, I am delighted with these excellent results.

"As always they have arisen from a very determined and hard-working approach from our students, coupled with some outstanding teaching. In addition a team of specially-trained Sixth Form tutors provide intensive support, challenge and guidance to our students."

Newport Free Grammar School: Overall results were excellent, with an overall pass rate of 99 per cent of which two-thirds of grades were at grade C or better. The average point score per candidate was 244.

Headteacher Sean O'Hagan described the results as "a gratifying reflection of the tremendous efforts of all the students and staff over the past two years".

Peter Atkinson, Arthur Toynton, Lee Anne Reddy, Jack Clarke, Katherine Langridge and Lucy Millington all achieved at least three A grades with Peter and Arthur achieving four A grades and Lee-Anne three As and one B.

Peter will be taking up a place to read music at Sheffield University; Arthur and Katherine will read chemistry at Durham University; Lucy will study Italian and theatre studies at Warwick; Jack will study aeronautics at Southampton and Lee-Anne has accepted a place at the London School of Economics to read sociology.

Additionally Abbie Chapman achieved two A grades, one B grade and an A* in her Extended Project Qualification, a first for the school.

Friends' School, Saffron Walden: For the fifth year in a row students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, with 34.5 per cent A grades, 69 per cent at A or B and 88 per cent at A to C.

Headteacher Graham Wigley said: "The headline figures are all improvements on last year's impressive results and rival the school's best ever results from 2007.

"Once again our students did themselves and their teachers proud, with excellent grades across all subjects. It was a pleasure to receive results like this knowing what each set of grades means for each individual student.

"I'm delighted that they are able to move on to the universities of their choice, particularly this year which, as the press have highlighted, is particularly competitive.