Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for Learning has paid tribute to the "dedication and hard work" of pupils after the county saw an improvement in exam results.

More than 1 in 5 Powys WJEC results for 2018 are at the highest grades A*-A which represents an increase from results in 2017. 4.5% of results were at grade A* and a further 15.6% were at grade A. Nearly 5 out of 10 results were at grades A*-B (48.2%) and more than three-quarters of results (75.9%) were at grades A*-C.

Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Cabinet Member for Learning, said: "These are very good results clearly reflecting the dedication and hard work of pupils and teachers in all Powys schools.

"Our warm congratulations go to all the young people on their well-deserved achievement and to all those who have supported them throughout their school careers. We wish all the students every success for the future.”

Across the country Wales recorded it's best ever national A-Level results, with 8.7% of candidates achieving A*, the best outcome in Wales since the grade was introduced in 2010 when 6.5% got an A*.

However results in Powys remain behind the national average for Wales at A*-A, with 20.1% of exam results achieving an A* - A grading compared to 26.3% nationally.

The gap closes at grades A* - E, otherwise know as the overall pass rate, with 97.2% achieving pass results compared to 97.4% nationally.

Roderic Gillespie, Chief Executive of examinations board WJEC, said: "I would like to congratulate all candidates collecting their results today, and to the teachers, parents, families and friends who have supported them. Their achievements reflect their hard work.

"This is a time of significant change, and we're proud to work with and support teachers, schools and colleges across Wales to ensure that each and every learner achieves the results they deserve. On behalf of WJEC, I wish all candidates the very best in their future."