Schools across Camden and Barnet have celebrated a trend-bucking set of A-level results this year, defying a national decline in grades.

Thousands of teenagers made the nerve-wracking journey to school yesterday to pick up their results, but there were plenty of happy faces at all three of the borough’s schools.

A-level grades in Camden have exceeded national averages, with many schools in the borough reporting a record-breaking year.

Camden School for Girls, Camden Town, is celebrating some of its best ever A-level results after half of its sixth-formers scored A* or A grades.

At University College School in Hampstead, 93 per cent of students achieved A* to B grades.

Its rival Highgate School, just over the border in Haringey, has also seen a rise in the number of A* and A grades this year, with a staggering 73.8 per cent getting the top marks.

Nationally, A* and A grades have fallen by 0.3 per cent while the overall pass rate is down by 0.1 per cent.

In Camden, nearly 79 per cent achieved A* to C grades, compared against the national average of 76.5 per cent.

The proportion of A* to B grades was also slightly higher than the national average, with 52.4 per cent scooping the top grades compared with 52.2 per cent nationally.

The borough’s pass rate stands at 98.3 per cent, while nationally 98 per cent got A* to E grades.

Cllr Angela Mason, Camden Council’s cabinet member for children has praised the hard work of teachers and support of parents across Camden.

She said: “Despite a shifting national landscape, Camden’s results remain strong with our students and sixth forms performing above the national average in many instances.

“There are good news stories right across Camden, and many of our students have performed incredibly well.

“It is testimony, again, to the quality and hard work of our teachers and the support of parents in our Camden schools.”

Meanwhile in Barnet, pupils achieved a higher number of A*s and As than in the rest of the country at the nine out of 16 comprehensives which have released their results.

At Henrietta Barnett School, Hampstead Garden Suburb, 80 per cent of pupils gained an A* or A grade - a jump of three per cent since last year.

However, King Alfred School in Golders Green has seen a nine per cent drop in A* to C grades since last year, from 74 per cent to 65 per cent.

Barnet’s education chief Cllr Reuben Thompstone, said he is “proud” of what Barnet schools can offer people living in the borough.

The chairman of the children, education, libraries and safeguarding Committee, added: “I am delighted to see that once again Barnet pupils are delivering excellent A-level results.

“We know that our high quality schools are one of the many reasons why people choose to live in Barnet and these results prove once again that we are right to be proud of our educational offer.”