It was another record year for A-level students in Croydon with many achieving top grades in the exams.

There were smiles and tears of joy last Thursday as students across the borough returned to their colleges to collect their results.

Independent schools like Old Palace, Cambridge Tutors College, Royal Russell and Croydon High School saw 100 per cent of pupils gaining passes at A to E grades.

But it was not just the independent schools that fared well. Coulsdon College saw its pass rate jump from 90 per cent last year to 96 per cent this year, in line with the national average. And pass rates for students on vocational courses rose from 78 per cent to 85 per cent.

College principal David Goodlet said: "With an open access policy, to achieve this level of success is a great achievement by our staff and students."

For the fourth year running John Ruskin College in Selsdon Park Road, South Croydon, saw its results improve with students achieving a 95 per cent pass rate for A-levels and 97 per cent pass rate in vocational subjects.

The college's principal Jennifer Sims said: "We are delighted at these excellent results which are a result of the hard work and dedication of our teachers and our students.

"It has been wonderful seeing students so pleased at their achievements and looking forward to going on to the university of their choice.

"We will be celebrating with all the staff when they return on August 25 to enrol our new cohort of students."

Croydon's A-level results

School pass rate percentage 2005 / 2004
Cambridge Tutors College, Croydon 100 96
Croydon High School, Selsdon 100 100
John Ruskin College, Selsdon 95 93
Old Palace, Croydon 100 100
Royal Russell, Croydon 100 98
The Lodge, Purley 97 94
Trinity School, Shirley 99.4 99.4
Coloma Convent RC, Shirley 97 100
John Fisher RC School, Purley n/a n/a
Archbishop Tenison's C of E, Croydon 97.1 97
Coulsdon College, Coulsdon 96 90
Brit School, Selhurst 100 94
Croydon College, Croydon 91 90
National 96.2 96