STUDENTS across Torfaen are planning their futures with enthusiasm following the announcement of A-level results last week.

Results show an improvement on last year's figures with Torfaen students achieving a 96 percent pass rate, the same as the UK average.

Around 31 percent of students achieved A-grades, an improvement of nine per cent on last year and seven per cent higher than the UK and Welsh averages of 24 percent.

There were also improvements in the AS level results with the pass rate reaching 89 percent, beating the national average, and the proportion of pupils receiving A grades at AS rose by four percent, taking it to 18 percent.

Cllr John Turner, executive member for education said he wished to congratulate local students.

"The 2006 results are excellent, and I wish the young people well in their future careers or education pathways."

THERE were tears of joy and relief from students throughout the borough as the anxious wait for A-level results came to an end last week.

At St Albans RC High School Vikki Oliver, of New Inn, was one of many youngsters celebrating. She said she couldn't wait to go to Cardiff University to study Psychology and Criminology after achieving four straight A grades.

"I so happy with my results," the 18-year-old said, "My course looks so exciting! I'll feel like I'm in CSI on TV". Her boyfriend, Alex Nash, also 18, from Cwmbran, achieved an A and a B grade and will also be attending Cardiff University.

Bryony Hobbs, from Griffithstown, was "thrilled" with her results. Bryony achieved an A and two C's and had one of the Top 5 Art and Design marks in the country.

Fairwater High School pupil Gavin Morgan, from Cwmbran, said he was delighted with his three A grades in Art, Geography and History and a single B in Chemistry. Gavin was just 15 marks away from achieving a fourth A grade in the subject.

Rhodri Buffett, aged 18, from Blaenavon, and Shruti Patel, aged 18, from Fairwater in Cwmbran, were among successful students at Rougemont School to receive straight A grades.

Rhodri obtained As in Geography, Physics and Maths, while Shruti achieved As in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Both have big plans for the future. Shruti has had an offer from the London School of Pharmacy, but is currently waiting to hear from the School of Medicine at Cardiff University about getting a place there, while Rhodri will be starting a four year course in Aerospace Engineering at Bath University in September.

COLEG Gwent reported another record-breaking year for A-level results.

The pass rate for full-time Coleg Gwent students who sat examinations with the WJEC board was 98.87 per cent, up 0.51 per cent on last year's pass rate.

Among those hitting the headlines was mature student Glyn Davies, aged 59, of Penygarn who gained a grade B in A- level Welsh after studying part-time at The Hill Education and Conference Centre, at Abergavenny, and Granville Harris, aged 74, of Pontnewydd, Cwmbran.

Mr Harris said he was thrilled with his grade B in history.

It is the fifth A-level the grandfather has passed, his previous subjects being geography, sociology, ceramics and photography.

Mr Harris was accompanied on the day with his wife, Sheila, and two granddaughters, Stephanie, aged 12, and Lydia, aged five, who said they were all "extremely proud" of him.

Mrs Harris, who herself studied A-level art a few years ago, said: "He has done really, really well."