THREE Worcestershire schools are among the top in the country for A-level results, despite the county as a whole again failing to meet the national average.

Malvern College made the top 60 schools in England for its average points score per student at A-level or equivalent of 1118.5 and took pole position in the county, according to figures from the Department for Education.

St Mary’s Worcester and Malvern St James also made the cut for the top 200 schools, with 992.8 and 1000.3 respectively.

St Mary’s also ranked number one in Worcestershire for its average point score of 261.3 per entry at A-level and equivalent.

Catherine Jawaheer, headmistress, said she was delighted by the result and regular monitoring of students had helped to ensure any issues were tackled early on.

She said: “Our head girl and deputy head girl last year went to Oxford and Cambridge respectively - that’s the first time in 10 years we have had anyone go to Oxbridge.”

Overall, county students achieved an average total point score of 700.3 - a drop on last year’s score of 710.3 and below the national average of 733.

Worcester College of Technology saw a drop in its score, from 610.7 to 571, while Worcester Sixth Form College’s average rose from 737.7 to 742, having experienced a fall in 2011.

Michael Kitcatt, principal of WSFC, said getting students on the right courses, motivation among learners and good teaching, learning and assessment levels helped to keep its scores above average.

He said: “Our results are always very good and our points score per student has been consistently above the local authority average.”

Peter Robinson, director of quality and planning WCT, the college’s dip in results was partly due to students choosing to study A-level with vocational elements.

He said: “Because of the way the system is devised, this can influence the college’s overall point score, but enhances our learners’ future career prospects.

“Our value-added scores, based on learners’ entry grades show they continue to make good progress in their A-level subjects and we are pleased that our A -evel students were able to pursue their next steps into higher education.

“We have many exceptional A Level students who are achieving extremely high grades, including a student who has recently been offered a place at Oxford University.”

Maria Arkell, vice principal (learning and performance) at South Worcestershire College, which had the lowest points score per student in the county, said: “South Worcestershire College does not offer any A-levels courses as we specialise in offering high quality vocational courses and apprenticeships for young people to enable them to enter the workplace with relevant training and skills.”