AS THOUSANDS of pupils open the most important envelopes of their lives this morning, early indications are that Sussex is in for another top class year.

After delivering the goods in 2013 despite national doom and gloom, the county’s schools last night revealed they had maintained their A-level standards.

BHASVIC recorded its best ever results with more than 950 students achieving a pass rate of 99% and with 60% of pupils gaining A* to B grades – enough to send 34 students to Oxford or Cambridge.

The evergreen Brighton College is expected to top the pile once more, maintaining its 100% pass rate and with 75% of students achieving the top A* to A grades.

This was despite a slight drop in the number of students achieving A* to B grades.

Delighted headteacher Richard Cairns said: “I am thrilled that 100 boys and girls secured at least three As in their exams, 27 secured Oxbridge places and the vast majority are heading off to leading Russell Group universities.”

Sixth-form girls at Brighton and Hove High School are also celebrating a 100% pass rate with 51% A* or A grades and 80% at B and above.

Headteacher Jennifer Smith said: “We are very pleased that last year’s high standards have been maintained, given that there have been so many national changes in terms of re-sits and so on.”

Meanwhile, it’s all smiles at the state schools with Hove Park students bagging more A*s than ever before.

Tania Banks, head of the sixth form, said: “Our motto in sixth form is dream it, believe it, achieve it, and this year many of our students have surpassed all of our expectations.

“They dreamt it, they did it.”

Varndean College also maintained its 98% pass rate and climbed one percentage point to 49% in students gaining A* to B grades.

Dr Philip Harland, headteacher, said: “They have been a delight to teach and thoroughly deserve their success.”

New Lancing College headteacher Dominic Oliver has started his tenure with a 100% pass rate and is excited to get his feet under the desk.

He said: “It’s a place that cares about the person and making sure the young people who leave here are ready for life’s challenges.

“It’ll be an incredibly nervous time and the anticipation will be huge, but there’s that cliché of jumping for joy – and I remember spontaneously doing that when I picked my results up.

“But it’s not just a day for the students, but the teachers and parents who have helped support them along the way.

“It’s a really big point in their lives, and it’s always a special day.”

Worthing College held on to its 97% pass rate and despite a dip of students achieving the top grades, headteacher Peter Corrigan was proud of his students’ achievements.

There were incredible results at Sussex Coast College Hastings, with a 100% pass rate and student Charlotte Hunter notching up 100% in her government politics exam. She said: “I am so proud of this achievement, I expected to do well, but to get 100% in my exam is fantastic news.”

Don’t miss tomorrow’s Argus for a full table and A-level analysis from across the county. Log on to The Argus live blog at theargus.co.uk to share your stories and pictures from A-levels results day.