A-level students across the Vale have been receiving their results as grading returns to a pre-pandemic format.

Across Wales, top A* and A grades are down from 34% to 29.9% following the first normal year of exams following Covid.

Around 1200 students from most disadvantaged backgrounds have also secured a place at university - down from a peak of 1250 last year.

But the exams watchdog says the decline in top grades was part of a "glide path back" from more generous grading and higher results seen over the past two years.

The Welsh Government's education secretary said the results were what they expected to see and are "broadly similar to pre-pandemic outcomes".

10.1% of Welsh students acheived A* star grades, while 29.9% got A* to A results and 97.4% received A* to  grades.

Locally, there been congratulations from the cabinet member for education at Vale Council.

Cllr Rhiannon Birch said: "Congratulations to the many who are celebrating after another excellent performance for the county. A lot of effort has gone into achieving this success, so I hope our sixth-form pupils enjoy their moment."

"A great deal of hard work is also put in by teachers and school staff, alongside support from parents, and these groups also deserve recognition at a time like this."

"I’d encourage pupils to savour their accomplishments, and whatever the future holds, I wish them every success for the future."

"Of course, not everyone will have received the results they wanted. For anyone in that position, support and information is available from the Welsh Joint Education Committee and Welsh Government."

On a visit to meet college students in Wrexham, education secretary Lynne Neagle said: "This year’s exams mark the final step to pre-pandemic arrangements. This year, for the first time since the pandemic, A-level and AS Levels exams and assessments took place with the same arrangements as pre-pandemic."

She added: "Each and every one of you receiving results today should be tremendously proud of your achievements. Today is testament to your resilience and perseverance."

"Whatever your plans are for the next step in your life, I wish you all ‘pob lwc’. There are many ways to continue your learning, some of you may be about to start an apprenticeship or a new job or maybe you have secured a place at your chosen university, including some of our great institutions here in Wales."

"But if you need advice on what to do next, there’s plenty of information and support available to you, through your school or college as well as the Young Person's Guarantee which offers a range of options."

"I will continue to focus on doing everything I can to raise standards and ensure everyone is supported to reach their full potential."

There were also congratulations to students from opposition parties - but the Welsh Conservatives attacked cuts to education funding and teachers as well as changes to the curriculum.

Tom Giffard, shadow education minister, said: “It is a testament to the determination and achievement of both staff and pupils to accomplish all they have this year in spite of Labour’s cuts to the education budget, a change to the curriculum and a reduction in teachers."

“Ultimately, there is more to education than just exam results and Wales’ schools deserve better than the underfunding from the Labour Government. That’s why the Welsh Conservatives have a plan to appropriately fund education and save Labour’s lost generation.”

“It is a worrying to see that students from a disadvantaged background are being left behind by Labour, with the attainment gap widening. The Welsh Government must come forward with a plan to close that gap.”

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru called for the Welsh Government to "get to grips" with challenges facing Welsh schools, universities and apprenticeship programmes by securing a fair funding deal from the UK Government.

Finance spokesperson Heledd Fychan said: "Many students will now go on to further full-time education, whilst others will be looking at apprenticeships, full-time work or alternative options. It's important that whatever path our young people set out to follow, there must be ample opportunities and jobs for them here in Wales."

"Yet students are receiving their results at a time where the apprenticeships budget is facing millions worth of cuts following the loss of EU funds, when schools are seeing budget cuts, Welsh universities are financially struggling, and the number of students in Wales applying to study at university is the lowest in the UK – with application rates dropping in some of our most disadvantaged areas."

"After 25 years in power in Wales, we need to see bold action from the Labour Welsh Government. Securing a fair funding settlement from the UK Labour Government will mean money to invest in our schools, universities and apprenticeships programmes – to tackle the teacher recruitment and retention crisis and provide a fair funding settlement for Welsh universities. Now is the time to invest in the future of our young people."