JUBILANT students are looking forward to a promising future after celebrating top A-level results.

Students across the country ripped open their envelopes to find a quarter had received a grade A.

The number of candidates obtaining grades A to E was up by 0.3 per cent from 96.6 per cent last year to 96.9 per cent in 2007.

Southend High for Boys, in Prittlewell Chase, celebrated its best results ever after 72 per cent of students achieved grades A or B.

However, many will still be waiting to hear their good news as they are in Venezuela on a World Challenge expedition.

Headteacher Michael Frampton, who retires this summer, toasted 20 of his students who achieved four or more grade As.

Greensward College, Hockley also had cause to celebrate with 37 per cent obtaining A and B grades and 98 per cent achieving passes at grades A to E.

Rob Bard, assistant vice principal, said the A-level students and BTEC students had all been a credit to the school and criticised those who said A-levels were being dumbed down.

He said: "I think we should celebrate the success of the students and the achievements they have made rather than slagging off the A-level results."

At South East Essex College, a champagne fountain was created by students who had received a string of As.

Jan Hodges, principal and chief executive, celebrated with the jubilant students who had achieved a 99 per cent pass rate at A to E - a college record.

She said: "I'm delighted. It's really good this year and a real credit to the hard work."

Graham Abel, headteacher at King Edmund school in Rochford, said staff were very pleased with their A-level students, but also those studying BTEC vocational qualifications - who all passed their exams.

Youngsters at Seevic College, Thundersley, cracked open the champagne to celebrate their grades.

They achieved a 97.5 per cent pass rate, matching last year's figure - with 24 subjects recording a 100 per cent pass rate.

Five hundred students sat the exams, with four achieving straight As - George Ealham, Lauren Tansley, Michael Malone and Aaron Masters.

The BTEC National Diploma courses also achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

Geoff Arnott, college principal, said: "This has been yet another year of outstanding achievement.

"I wish them every success at university and in the future."

Clare Neaves, deputy headteacher at King John School, said: "It was a pleasing set of results with some outstanding individual achievements."

At Mayflower High School, in Billericay, the overall pass rate was 99.6 per cent, with 53 per cent of all entries achieving A and B grades, and almost 10 per cent of the group achieving three or more A grades.

Deputy head Denice Halpin said: "Mayflower students have broken all previous records this year as they celebrate the best results in the school's history."

At Billericay School, 98 per cent of all exams taken were passed. Well over a third of grades were As and Bs.

Deputy head Alan Sims said: "These are the best results we've had in five years.

"We're very pleased and satisfied. They were a good GCSE group, too."

Staff were still working out results at Chalvedon School, in Pitsea.

On the question of A-levels being dumbed down, Gary Smith, head of key stage five, said: "Students are doing better because we've introduced more accessible courses, like vocational courses such as engineering, IT, business, health and social care and media.

"A-levels are not getting easier. People who say A-levels were harder in their day should go and sit one.

"This dumbing down business just comes from kids not sitting three, three-hour exams in one day any more."

At Beauchamps School, Wickford, there was a 94.3 per cent pass rate. Eleven out of the 16 subjects on offer had a 100 per cent pass rate, all slightly up on last year.

Deputy head Bob Hodges said: "We're very pleased again with the results.

"They reflect the hard work and commitment of students and staff, and obviously the support of parents."