STUDENTS in Camden achieved more top grades than ever before in their A-levels this year. A total of 50.7 per cent of exams were graded A or B in the borough last Thursday, above the national average of 50.2 per cent. And Camden headteachers have rubbishe

STUDENTS in Camden achieved more top grades than ever before in their A-levels this year.

A total of 50.7 per cent of exams were graded A or B in the borough last Thursday, above the national average of 50.2 per cent.

And Camden headteachers have rubbished claims that the exams are getting easier, despite only 2.8 per cent of exams being failed nationally.

The director of sixth form at La Swap's William Ellis School, Malcolm Rose, said pupils should be given the credit they deserve.

"Is it easier to swim the 100m or 200m?" he said. "Why is the swimmer Michael Phelps breaking all these records? Have they shortened the pool? Why can't people just accept their achievements?

"I think the kids are working harder and the teachers are getting savvier about the exam system. The exams also lend themselves to people who are willing to work hard and who are well prepared."

Deputy headteacher of Camden School for Girls, Barbara Butler, said she would welcome the introduction of a new A* grade at A-level.

"The A* grade would raise the bar and I know many of our students would have achieved the grade this time around," she said.

"I think the students respond very positively to the challenge. What I'm especially pleased about this year is that not only have they done exceptionally well academically, but they have also excelled outside of school.

"Six of our Year 13 pupils were selected to go to a Zulu village in South Africa where they were involved in community projects."

The school achieved its best A-level results ever with a fifth of all pupils getting straight A grades.

Pupils from Haverstock School also scored highly and achieved a massive increase in the number of A to C grades. Last year 46 per cent of grades were A to C, but the figure leapt to 60 per cent this year.

La Swap has also maintained the results pupils achieved last year, with 73.8 per cent of all exams being graded A to C.

Provisional results from all nine Camden state secondary schools show a pass rate of 96.9 per cent - the same as last year and up from 90 per cent in 2001.

Schools boss Andrew Mennear said: "Camden's students are going from strength to strength. I am pleased to see yet another good set of A-level results.

"I would like to congratulate the schools and students for all they have achieved. The results show how hard everyone has worked and the great effort they have put in.

"My thanks, too, to the teachers and families who have provided support and guidance to help our students achieve these results. I wish them all well in their future plans.