SWANSEA Valley students celebrated excellent results when picking up their A-levels this morning, with two heading off to Oxford University.

Students at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera picked up their A-level and BTEC results at the school on Thursday, August 17.

Nine students received AAA or above in their grades and several students gained ‘truly outstanding results across a wide subject range.’

Two of the students – Non Watts and Taryn Purchase – will be heading to Oxford University after receiving fantastic results.

Non achieved four A* grades in French, History, Mathematics and Welsh Bac, and will be going to Oxford to read French, whilst Taryn received two A* and two A grades and will be reading German and Portuguese at Oxford.

South Wales Guardian: Morgan Morse is off to Swansea University.Morgan Morse is off to Swansea University. (Image: Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera)

Some of the school’s star achievers include Joshua Cooper who had three A* in Chemistry, Mathematics and Welsh Bac and will be reading Pharmacy at Cardiff University, Lowri Spanner who also had three A* in History, Sociology and Welsh Bac and will be studying History at Aberystwyth University.

Cerys Walker will be going to Birmingham University to study Law after she achieved two A*, one A and one B grade in English Literature, Sociology, Biology and Welsh Bac. She will be joined at Birmingham University by Gwennan Horgan who will be studying Physiotherapy after receiving two A*, one A and one B grade in Geography, Physical Education, Biology and Welsh Bac.

Wales U20 rugby player Morgan Morse, who is signed to the Ospreys and featured in the Wales U20 squad for the U20 World Championships in South Africa earlier this summer, will study at Swansea University alongside his training after achieving two A grades and one B grade.

South Wales Guardian: Ruby-Mae Allen and Cellan Carter-Jones are off to their first-choice universities.Ruby-Mae Allen and Cellan Carter-Jones are off to their first-choice universities. (Image: Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera)

Laurel Davies, headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera, said: “Huge congratulations to all our students. We are delighted to celebrate their success and are proud of the resilience they have shown over the past two years.

“They are all exceptional, inspiring, and talented young people and we could not be prouder of their results. We also wish to thank them for their valued and significant contribution to the school community during their time at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera.

“As a 3-18 campus on a fantastic £37 million re-build, students at all levels are reaping the benefits.”

Tudur Jones, chair of the school’s governing body, said: “We are extremely proud of the examination success of all our students at Ystalyfera. As the only post-16 Welsh medium establishment in Neath Port Talbot, we know how important these young people are for the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 vision.

“Best wishes to all as they move on to universities, colleges or into employment.”

Across the school, 68 per cent of all A-level grades were in the A* to C range, with 25 per cent of all grades coming in at either A* or A. 98 per cent of all grades fell between A* and E and 20 per cent of Welsh Bac students received A* or A grades.