STUDENTS at Brecon High School brushed aside concerns over the standard of A levels to celebrate their achievements. The school scored an impressive 97 per cent pass rate, with 68 per cent at the top A to C grades. And behind the statistics were many personal success stories, with three girls, Gordana Dennis, Megan Roberts and Kamanika Don Mohottige sweeping the board with a clean set of three A grades each. Megan, 18, of Brecon who gained top grades in English Literature, Religious Education and Home Economics, admitted she had hoped for good news last Thursday morning. "It was a nice surprise. I secretly hoped to get three A's but the exams were really hard so I wasn't sure if I would," said Megan who now plans to study acting at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Gordana, 18, of Sennybridge, also said she was surprised when she picked up her results in French, English literature and Art: "I'm pleased and it was surprise. I worked hard and needed to get two B's and a C to get into university in Leeds to study French and Italian, which I will have to learn fresh." And Gordana added: "A levels are not easy and they were a lot of hard work." That view was backed up by 18-year-old Zach McAllister, of Brecon, who, after collecting three B's in Biology, Chemistry and PE, said: "They were quite hard and I don't think they are easy at all, we're just getting brighter." There was double cause for celebration for best friends Hayley Davies, of Glasbury, and Rachel Mackinnon. The 18-year-olds both gained the grades they needed to take up their places at Swansea University to study English and Pschology respectively. Rachel, who scooped two C's and a B, said: "It's exactly what I wanted and is just fine for me to get into Swansea." Her pal Hayley, who acheived A's in Art and Law and a B in English Literature, added: "I'm going to Swansea to do English but I don't know what I want to do after that. It was my first choice university and I can't wait to go and party. "Hopefully it will be more relaxed as I couldn't do A levels again, they are really stressful." Headteacher Stephen Perks paid tribute to the achievements of the students. He said: "The A level results this year were very pleasing indeed and have enabled the vast majority to achieve their university placements. It also shows quite clearly the hard work put in by both the pupils themselves and the staff in order for the school to have these successful results." Mr Perks said he thought students were happy with A level examinations and resisted calls for wholesale changes: "We need a bedding in period in education and allow change to occur naturally as there have been a lot of changes in education over the last couple of years." Pupils at Ystradgynlais' Ysgol Maesydderwen also had cause to celebrate, with a 95 per cent pass rate.
