Students across Conwy and the North Wales coast are celebrating their A-level results today, with schools and colleges reporting a series of outstanding individual performances and strong routes into university, apprenticeships and employment.

Whilst Thursday is A-level results day across Wales, students are also receiving results for a range of Level 3 vocational qualifications. The WJEC confirmed that AS and A levels, Level 3 applied certificates and diplomas and the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales are among the qualifications being issued today.

The national picture is a positive one, with the proportion of top grades rising across the UK.

Across the UK, 28.5% of A-level entries were awarded an A or A* this year, up from 25.4% in 2019, while 9.6% received the top A* grade – the highest figure outside the pandemic years. The overall A*-C rate was 78.4%.

Northern Ireland recorded the highest proportion of A and A* grades, at around 30.7%, followed by Wales and England. The figures also show significant differences between regions, with London recording the highest proportion of top grades in the UK.

There has also been a record number of 18-year-olds securing university places, with 262,820 UK students accepted onto degree courses, an increase of 3% on last year.

For students across North Wales, however, the national figures only tell part of the story.

Hundreds of learners at Coleg Llandrillo are celebrating what the college describes as exceptional results at its Rhos-on-Sea and Rhyl campuses.

A-level students achieved an overall 98.5% pass rate, with more than 80% achieving A* to C grades and almost one in five achieving an A* or A.

Vocational learners have also performed strongly, with almost 20% achieving the highest grades available – Distinction* or Distinction.

The results have opened the door to universities across the UK, including Russell Group institutions such as Cardiff, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Warwick.

Among the individual successes is Rhyl student Fathima Fairoos, who achieved an A* in Biology, an A in Chemistry and a B in Physics and will now study Medicine.

At Rhos-on-Sea, Maya Oakes achieved A in Art, B in Photography and A in Graphics and is heading to the University of Salford to study Graphic Design.

There were also strong vocational results. Jac Williams achieved D*, D, D in Sport and Exercise Science, securing a place at Bangor University to study Policing as well as a two-year contract with RGC.

Coleg Llandrillo Principal Paul Flanagan said the college was "immensely proud" of learners and staff, with A*-A, A*-E and Distinction profiles all increasing compared with last year.

There were celebrations at Ysgol Aberconwy, where students achieved results that will see them progress to universities, higher-level apprenticeships, employment and other opportunities.

Among the standout performances was Holly Wilson, who achieved an extraordinary A, A, A* and A** and will study Politics at university in Cardiff.

Other notable results included Harry Senior, who achieved A*, A, A and B, Nell Shannon, who achieved three As and is taking up a degree apprenticeship with EON at the University of Nottingham, and Sonny Mitchell, who achieved Dist*, Dist*, A and B and will study Finance at Newcastle.

Students are also heading into a wide variety of careers and courses.

Emily Wraith is going to Salford to study Occupational Therapy, Shana Kelly will study Sports Science at Keele, Isla Shackleton is heading to Chester for International Tourism and Elin Jones will study Psychology at Bangor.

Other students are heading into careers with the RAF, while others will study Law, Equine Science and Forestry Management.

The school says the results underline the continued growth and success of its sixth form.

Students at Ysgol John Bright in Llandudno are also celebrating.

Headteacher Hywel Parry said around two-thirds of the cohort achieved at least one A or A*, describing the results as a testament to students' hard work and the quality of teaching and pastoral support.

Among the outstanding performers is Student President Harry Clayton, who achieved an exceptional four A*s and an Aand will study Physics at Oxford.

Dyan Owen achieved four A*s and is heading to Cardiff to study Medicine.

Poppy Close achieved three A*s and an A and will study Mathematics at Durham, while Lea Brzyska, with three A*s and an A, will study Physiotherapy at Southampton.

The school says 60% of all grades awarded were A* to B and that provisional ALPS data places the sixth form among the top 1% in the UK.

There has been another exceptional performance at Rydal Penrhos in Colwyn Bay. The school says 26% of all A-level grades were A* this year, compared with 20% in 2025.

Half of all grades were A* or A, while 69% were A* to B – a rise of 13 percentage points on last year.

The proportion achieving A* to C rose to 91%, compared with 83% last year, while the school recorded a 100% A-level pass rate.

Students at Prestatyn High School are also celebrating what the school describes as another year of excellent academic and personal achievements.

Headteacher Neil Foley praised students for their dedication and commitment, while Head of Prestatyn High Sixth Form Sian Reed highlighted the hard work of students and the support provided by their families.

The school says its students will now move on to university, employment, apprenticeships and other opportunities.

At Coleg Cambria's Deeside Sixth Form Centre, Rhyl student Kathryn Bell is celebrating an offer to study International Relations and Politics at Liverpool John Moores University.

Kathryn, a former Rhyl High School pupil, achieved her A levels in Politics, Law and History and was also named Politics Student of the Year at Cambria.

Her ambitions have been shaped by her experience as a young carer, and she hopes eventually to help influence policy affecting disabled people and young carers.

She says her studies and work with young carers have allowed her to put the knowledge she gained in the classroom into practice.

While today's results are often associated with university places, schools and colleges across North Wales are highlighting the wide range of options available to young people.

Some students will head to universities across Wales and the rest of the UK, while others will take up degree apprenticeships, vocational training, apprenticeships or employment.

That range of pathways is reflected in this year's results, with students moving into subjects including medicine, physics, politics, finance, engineering, policing, occupational therapy, sports science and the creative arts.

And for anyone who hasn't achieved the grades they were hoping for, today's result is not the end of the road.

Universities and colleges have places available through Clearing, while schools, colleges and careers services can offer advice on alternative courses, resits, apprenticeships and other routes.

For further help and advice contact Careers Wales on 0800 028 4844 or locally in Conwy County, the Conwy Employment Hub on 01492 575578.