SECONDARY school head teachers chair, Elizabeth Hitch, has congratulated all the students in local schools who have put in so much hard work for their A-level studies. Ms Hitch, head of Beaumont in St Albans, described them as an absolute credit to their

SECONDARY school head teachers chair, Elizabeth Hitch, has congratulated all the students in local schools who have put in so much hard work for their A-level studies.

Ms Hitch, head of Beaumont in St Albans, described them as an "absolute credit to their schools and to their parents and teachers."

She went on: "St Albans and Harpenden communities should be very proud of the achievements of their young people. There are very few areas in the country which could attempt to match the high achievement of students in this area of Hertfordshire."

She said that once again almost every student had succeeded in getting a place at the university of their choice although many were planning a gap year before taking up a place in 2010 in order to gain experience of the world of work.

Ms Hitch added: "To all our students whether progressing to university or into the world of work we say well done and wish you all the very best for the future.