THERE were smiles all round at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) as the jubilent achievers received their glowing A-level results.

52.4 per cent of the girls received A*-A grades, virtually doubling the national average for 2013 of 26.3 per cent.

The girls will be attending some of the top universities in the UK and indeed the world, with one student turning down a place at Oxford University to study International Politics and Arabic at Yale University, Connecticut.

Helen Davy, headmistress at HMSG, said: "I am extremely proud of the girls' results today. Hard work, dedication and excellent teaching have meant that expectations have been met or even exceeded.

"The outstanding point today is that girls have followed individual paths producing a diversity of top quality courses as never before."

The atmosphere was slightly more subdued at Monmouth School, with the boys naturally acting slightly more cool, their results, however, were anything but.

39.1 per cent of the boys were awarded A*-A grades which, like the girls' school, beat the national average.

Headmaster, Dr Steven Connors, said: "This year we achieved our second highest percentage of A* grades which bucked the national trend.

"The majority of our boys received the grades to take up places at their first choice universities to study a very broad cross-section of subjects.

"Sam Pierce had the distinction of being offered scholarships to the top conservatoires in the UK, achieving four As. He will now take up his place at the Royal Academy of Music.

"I have also been very impressed with how our Head of School, Hallam Amos, combined his fledgling professional rugby career with his A-level studies."

Hallam is currently playing for the Newport Gwent Dragons and is the youngest rugby player ever to score a try in the Northern Hemisphere.

He was awarded three A*s and an A grade and will go on to study medicine at Cardiff University while playing rugby for the Dragons, virtually mirroring the career path of Welsh centre Jamie Roberts, who studied medicine at Cardiff while playing for the Cardiff Blues. The Lions centre even had some advice for Hallam.

"I've spoken to Jamie and he told me it's all about time management and getting the balance right between studying and rugby," said Hallam.

"I think I'll have to do my medicine course part-time like Jamie so I can commit to my rugby training.

"Studying for my A-levels was quite tough, I sat one exam when I was playing in the Junior World Cup in France.

"In terms of the future I know that rugby is a limited career, you only get around 10 to 15 years, and if the rugby doesn't work out I'll have my degree in medicine.

"The main reason I decided not to attend one of the Oxbridge universities was so that I could stay in Wales and play for the Dragons. Cardiff was the only university I applied for."

At Monmouth Comprehensive School, students were equally happy with their results.

The pass rate for this year was 99 per cent with 80 per cent of pupils achieving the top grades.

More than 90 per cent of students have gone onto their choice of university and will be leaving to study a vast array of courses at universities across the country from Oxford, London, Bristol, Durham and Cardiff, and pursuing courses in medicine, engineering, modern foreign languages, computer science, geography and many more.

Monmouth Comprehensive will see two of its students attend Oxford University in September. Merlin Gable will be studying English at the university after receiving two A*s, one A and a B.

"I checked online before I came to collect my results and it said that I got in," he said.

"My family are over the moon, I haven't told my grandparents yet but I'm sure they'll be very happy.

"I've known Oxford for a while, I like the city and the historical buildings. I'll be going to the pub later to celebrate."

Sophie Dowle, also going to Oxford University, will be studying Arabic and Islamic studies.

"I had four As and am looking forward to studying at Oxford University."

Caroline Dean, head of Sixth Form, said: "We have a very successful Sixth Form at Monmouth Comprehensive School, which has been praised by the Welsh Inspectorate, Estyn.

"We also have one of the largest and most diverse curriculum offers that allows students with different interests, enthusiasms and passions a great choice."

Headmaster Vaughn Davies said: "The community will be delighted with the success of our students and will no doubt want to celebrate to show how proud we all are of their achievements.

"Our awards evening will be held on Thursday 12th September and this is the time we can come together to celebrate the lives of students at Monmouth Comprehensive School."