How students in the West marked A-Level result day

Students across the West of England expressed both nerves and excitement as they picked up their A-Level results.

While some will now start preparing to attend their chosen university, others are getting ready for college, embarking on apprenticeships, looking to enter the job market or taking some time out.

And there are a range of options for people who did not quite get the results they expected, with a number of BBC resources available to help.

Rory Anderson, from Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne, Wiltshire, celebrated finding out he had achieved three A*, guaranteeing his place at Cambridge University to study maths. "This has been a long time in the making. I feel super proud," he said.

Fellow student James McCarroll had two reasons to celebrate. He not only got the grades he needed for his next chapter, but also marked his 18th birthday.

"I feel great," he said. "I got into the university I wanted, I'm going to Bristol UWE for business management."

Meanwhile, Yasmine Stock celebrated her impressive results in English and sociology. She plans to take a gap year to work and save money before her next steps.

Liam Collins, assistant head teacher at Kings Green Academy, said he was "really proud" of his students and the "doors opened" for them.

Collins said he had noticed a "shift" in recent years, with more and more students choosing not to go to university.

At Weston College in Bristol, students were brimming with excitement at their results.

Among them were Matilda Nicholson and Holly Crew, who just completed a health course and achieved the grades they needed, a merit and a distinction, to start apprenticeships with the NHS.

Ula Krzyzak, who studied level 3 fashion and textiles, needed a merit to take her next step, a fashion textile course at UWE.

"I got a distinction. I was not expecting that, but I was really happy," the aspiring costume designer said.

Dan Aldridge MP visited Weston College, which he attended 23 years ago, to speak to students.

"I didn't get the results I wanted, but I still went on to do really exciting things," he said.

"It feels really important to be here and show some support to the young people getting their results. There's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of anxiety, but also a lot of hope."

In Somerset, proud parents watched on as students at Bridgwater College opened their envelopes.

Clay Barber was "really happy" with their grades, which they said could lead to "good options" for the future.

They currently work full-time at a hotel, and achieved two B's in sociology and criminology, which they said could see them applying to universities.

Clay's mum said she was "relieved and happy."

"It's been a long two years for them, and they've been through a lot of stresses," she said.

"I'm happy for them more than anything. I would have been happy whatever they'd got. I feel like I've done my job as a parent," she added.

Other students picking up results included Jessie Frost, who will take up an apprenticeship at an accountancy firm in Taunton after getting an A and two A*, and Betsy Fielding, who will study Zoology at Exeter University after her AAA results.

Over at Newent Community School, there was a steady stream of students collecting results as balloons adorned the hallways.

Hali Patel will soon start a mechanics apprenticeship and said: "I'm feeling pretty good, I'm pretty happy with my results.

"The one I'm most happy about is graphics, I got an A*. Big thanks to Mr Britten, who told me to take that subject."

Meanwhile. Andrew Barley said he was "quite happy" with his results, especially his C in maths. He hopes to go to university, possibly to study chemistry.

Fellow student Matthew Jones hopes to save up some money and travel. He described his results in PE, maths and business as the "best case scenario".

Headteacher Ben Dumayne said the efforts of staff and students had led to some "cracking results".

"There are 33 students in this cohort, and they all got the results they needed for the next stage in their education," he said.

And a member of the Royal Family will be starting his studies in the West Country soon after achieving the A-level results he needed.

Buckingham Palace announced the King's nephew James, Earl of Wessex - the son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - will start at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester this autumn.

The Palace said he would be studying Rural Land & Property Management.

Additional reporting by Kirsten Robertson

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