HEAD teachers David Nichols and Wendy Whelan were delighted when they discovered a "significant rise" as they checked through this year's A-level results.

Together they run one of the city's major sixth forms – the Millennium Centre, a joint venture between Derby Moor Community Sports College and Littleover Community School.

The centre, based at both schools in Littleover, has seen a big improvement in the number of students gaining the highest grades of A and B. The overall pass rate was 99.3%, with almost every student gaining at least an E pass in one subject.

A total of 78% of results were A to C grades, 55% A or B grades and 25% were A grades.

Mr Nichols, who is head of Littleover Community School, said: " This is a further year of outstanding results which yet again show an improvement on the previous year and maintain a continuing upward trend."

Two pupils gained five A grades each. A further nine students achieved four A grades and 22 had three A grades – many of the same students also gained additional A-level passes at B and C grades.

Mr Nichols said: "Significantly, 94% of students achieved or bettered their predicted grades.

"They excelled in the sciences and maths with 83% of the 66 students who studied maths gaining A to C – 35% achieved A grades.

"To sustain improvement of this calibre is very rewarding for both students and staff."

Derby Moor head Wendy Whelan said: "The number of students going on to further study at the university of their choice is extremely high.

"It is significant that students are achieving highly in such a wide range of subjects, including the traditional subjects which are often seen as more difficult."

Results at Alfreton Grange Arts College have also shown significant improvement, according to head Wendy Sharp.

She said: "These are our first results as a specialist arts college and the average points -score, where each A-level grade is allocated points, has increased by almost 10%.

"On top of last year's massive improvement, these results are a cause for jubilation."

The Alfreton school recorded an overall pass rate of 97% with 50% of candidates gaining A to C grades.

Mrs Sharp, who leaves the school to take up the headship at John Port School, in Etwall, from September, said: "My sincere congratulations go to all of our students, many of whom will be going to university."

Under the points allocation system, an A grade is worth 120 points, a B is 100, C is 80, D is 60 and E is 40.

After a bumper year in 2008, Ray Ruszczynski, head teacher at Chellaston School, was delighted to find more improvements this year.

He said: "Our average point score per student in 2008 was 765 and it has risen this year to 774.

"The average point score per A-level is 225, up from 220 last year.

"We are delighted that students continue to gain strong results across all subjects but, in particular, we are delighted that results in English, maths and all of the sciences are strong."

Mr Ruszczynski is reluctant to highlight individual successes, preferring to see the results as a team effort between staff, parents and students.

He said: "I think that our strength lies in the fact that we place great emphasis on the core subjects across the school.

"We have continued to place an emphasis on key subjects which should create future employment opportunities for our students."

Staff and students at Derby High School were also jubilant after achieving the best A-level results for 10 years.

Students achieved a pass rate of 100%, with 83% of the grades awarded being A or B.

Head teacher Colin Callaghan said:"Five girls achieved four straight As and one achieved five A grades.

"This has been a very disrupted year for the school, with the construction of our new sixth form and music centre, which makes these results all the more impressive."

Woodlands School head teacher Alan Brady was "absolutely delighted" by the school's results.

He said: "Six of our 76 students gained straight A grades. A-level results day is always a highlight of the year as we see students who came to us aged 11 and now leave as confident and successful young adults."