Norfolk A-level students have helped the county buck a national trend and see overall results improve.

Provisional data collected by the county council showed 75pc of A-level entries were graded at A*-C, compared to 72pc last year, while the average point score per student, which is used in national performance tables, increased by three points to 765.

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The provisional figures do not include further education and sixth form colleges, or independent schools.

The results are the second boost for Norfolk education this week, following Wednesday's Ofsted judgement that the council's support for school improvement is 'effective'.

James Joyce, chairman of the Children's Services Committee, said: 'These results are down to the commitment of students, school leaders, teachers and parents and everyone deserves credit for the part they have played.'

Overall figures for Suffolk and Cambridgeshire were not available.

Brian Conway, chairman of Norfolk Secondary Education Leaders, said comparing individual schools and colleges was unfair, but the improvement in the overall Norfolk picture was significant.

He said: 'I think it's Norfolk schools responding and trying to deliver the best for Norfolk students. This reflects the fact that people have got a bit sharper this year in preparing students.'

He added results for those taking the apprenticeship route were also good.

Rebecca Westrup, a lecturer in the UEA's School of Education and Lifelong Learning, said the removal of the January exam sittings did not have the negative effect many had predicted, and actually gave students longer to learn about their subjects.

She also welcomed more students taking extended projects, which she said helped prepared them for university.

Norwich South MP Simon Wright said: 'I am very pleased there has been an improvement in performance in Norfolk and I would very strongly congratulate teachers and students who have worked so hard over the last couple of years to make sure that these results have materialised.'

What do these A-level results tell us? Email martin.george@archant.co.uk