Students across the region basked in the same glory that saw the overall A-level pass rate improve nationally for the 27th year in succession.

The proportion of students now achieving grades A to E has reached 97.5 per cent nationally, an increase of 0.3 per cent from last year, while a record 26.7 per cent of entries were awarded an A grade.

The annual rise in A-level passes will see a new A* grade introduced next year so universities can filter out the top students.

The top-performing King Edward’s High School for Girls in Edgbaston saw 100 per cent of girls who sat the physics A-level achieve grades A or B, with maths and chemistry students obtaining 95 and 91 per cent respectively.

Pupils Imogen Brooke and Sarah Wood each achieved four grade As, with Imogen now hoping to enter the world of musical theatre while Sarah hopes to embark on a career in civil engineering.

Imogen, who has been dancing since the age of two and a half, said: "I am so excited to have got four As as I worked really hard, but the chance to attend the Laine Theatre Arts and learn from professional actors and dancers is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I intend to make the most of every minute!"

The neighbouring King Edward’s School enjoyed another record-breaking year with 75.7 per cent of candidates achieving A grade passes, beating last year’s record of 72.3 per cent, while the total points per candidate rose from 351 to another record high of 358.

Twins Tom and Alex Dawes followed up their ten A*s each at GCSE with five A grades at A-level and now both go to Oxford to read Mathematics.

Chief Master John Claughton said: "These are exceptional results for a wonderful group of boys.

"It is particularly striking to note how many of the most successful boys have received financial support during their time here: half of those with four A grades or better received scholarships or assisted places."

Q3 Academy in Great Barr saw its A-level pass rate rise from last year’s 92 per cent, when it was still Dartmouth High School, to 100 per cent now.

Key students highlighted were Alex Goodwin (2As and 2Bs), Richard Higgs (1A, 3Bs and 1C), Nathan Murphy (2As, 1B and 1D) and Zafron Mohammed (3As).

Chief executive/principal Caroline Badyal said: "We are delighted with the Academy’s first set of A-Level results, in particular the increase in the higher grades achieved."

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is also celebrating after its pass rate reached 99.8 per cent, with 77 per cent of the grades at A or B. The average point score per girl of 482.9 is equivalent to at least four grade As per girl.

Indivually, Rebecca Cole, Adrienne Law, Jessica Matthews, Sumayyah Mian, and Charlotte Vickers all achieved five grade As.

Sixth form pupils at Highclare School in Sutton Coldfield achieved a 97.2 per cent pass rate with 83.3 per cent A to C grades.

Solihull College also scored its best ever A-level results this year with a 100 per cent pass rate in 13 of its subjects including Maths, Biology, Physics and English Language and Literature.

The overall 98 per cent pass rate is up four per cent on last year.

Principal Brenda Sheils said: "Our students and their tutors have worked hard to achieve some stunning results, with many students excelling from quite modest achievements when they joined the college at 16, and now firmly on the road to successful careers."

Wolverhampton Grammar School achieved a 100 per cent pass rate for the third successive year, with 77 per cent at grades A or B.

Head of sixth form, Mark Benfield, said: "Results day will no doubt once again ignite the debate on the ‘dumbing down’ of A-levels, but we should be clear that these results are the culmination of two years of hard work from a group of dedicated students."

Twins Philip and Richard Corser from the Sixth Form College, Solihull, are celebrating identical A-level results with three As and a B grade in the same subjects.

Both of the 18-year-olds from Marston Green now go to Nottingham University where they will each study Mechanical Engineering.

Philip said: "It’s strange how it’s worked out that both Richard and I have done the same subjects but we have similar interests."

Edgbaston High School for Girls achieved a 100 per cent pass rate with 45.3 per cent at grade A and 31.3 per cent at grade B.

Headmistress Dr Ruth Weeks said "These results are a fitting tribute to the girls, their teachers and parents and I warmly congratulate them."

Abbey College in St Paul’s Square, Birmingham, which opened its doors at 6am yesterday, saw 55 per cent of students achieve grade A and 81.7 per cent at A or B.

And almost 60 per cent of pupils at Bromsgrove School obtained A grades, with the overall pass rate set at 99.8 per cent.

But Government ministers, teaching unions and students were all quick to maintain that A-levels have not been ‘dumbed down’ and made easier.

Mike Cresswell, director general of largest exam board AQA, said: "The improvements differ between regions so naive dumbing-down arguments do not wash.

"There are no easy options at A-level. If exams were getting easier, we would see trends across the regions. There are very significant differences in the improvements."

And Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "We should be congratulating students and teachers on their outstanding results, not belittling their achievements by criticising A-level standards.

"The rise in the number of students taking maths, physics and chemistry shows how ridiculous the debate about so-called hard and soft subjects is."