ST CYRES students enjoyed their A-level results day, with a high percentage looking forward to a bright future at university.

Among the high achievers were Simon Friend and Tom Peterken, who both scored five or more A* or A grades; Elias Jamieson, Daniel Love, Alexander Petherick, Cai Thomas and Miriam Varma, who had four or more A* or A grades each; and Grace Hartrey and Amir Saleh, who each recorded three or more A* or A grades.

A total of 82 sixth form students were awarded the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma, which is equivalent to an A grade at A-level.

Headteacher Dr Jonathan Hicks said: “There is now a more challenging environment for the country’s young people in terms of university places and employment prospects, but our students are well placed to enter this competitive arena.

“This is due to their own hard work and the professionalism and dedication of our teaching staff who have supported them every step of the way.

“The experience our sixth form students have gained through studying for the Welsh Baccalaureate will have given them a head start in their university studies," he added.

“I congratulate every one of them on their achievements and wish them well for the future.”

For those pupils who achieved the grades they needed to go to university it caps two years of hard work.

Grace Hartrey, who previously featured in the Penarth Times when she sang at the O2 Arena in London as part of the national competition The Next Brit Thing, will go to the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

She said: “It’s all paid off now. I can’t wait.”

Tom Peterken, who will go to Nottingham to study Physics after securing A-levels in maths, chemistry, physics and further maths, said: “I’m over the moon.”