Students in mid Norfolk have been praised for their hard work and dedication as college heads in Dereham, Fakenham and Reepham expressed delight at this year's A-level results.

Eastern Daily Press: Ellis Campbell, who is off to Cardiff University. Picture: Chris BishopEllis Campbell, who is off to Cardiff University. Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

Dereham Sixth Form College and Fakenham College have reported higher percentages of A-levels graded A* to C than last year, while Reepham College saw 87pc of A-levels graded A* to C, the same figure as last year.

Reepham College also achieved the most progress from GCSE to A-Level in the college's history.

John Randall, Reepham College director, said: 'There was a huge number of happy students - they did fantastically well.

'We have hugely motivational staff and have been working in collaboration with parents, we are very proud of our students and wish them all the success in their next step.'

Eastern Daily Press: Zac Green celebrates getting an A in drama and an A* in english literature. Picture: Chris BishopZac Green celebrates getting an A in drama and an A* in english literature. Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

At Dereham Sixth Form College, 79pc of A-levels were graded A* to C, a 4pc increase on last year.

This is despite the college experiencing a challenging year with proposals made to split the sixth form in two, plans which polarised opinions in the town and could still go ahead in the long term.

Four students had secured Oxbridge places yesterday morning with two more waiting to see if they will be accepted.

Susie Ostler will study veterinary medicine at Cambridge, Ethan Henson will study medicine at Cambridge, Florence Walker will study English language and English literature at Oxford and Lauren Burton will study geography at Oxford.

Eastern Daily Press: Fakenham College students (from left) Luke Vertigan, Alice Brown and Stacey Curry are all pleased with their results. Picture: Chris BishopFakenham College students (from left) Luke Vertigan, Alice Brown and Stacey Curry are all pleased with their results. Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

Phyllis O'Grady, director at Dereham Sixth Form College, said: 'I'm incredibly proud of all of our students for remaining focussed, with everything going on in the background.

'They have proved that we are a good college in very challenging circumstances.'

She added: 'I passionately feel that the needs of learners in Dereham are best suited by one large sixth form college.'

Staff and students at Fakenham College are celebrating the best A-level results for several years, with twice as many able to go in to university.

Eastern Daily Press: Students are Reepham College celebrate their A-Level successStudents are Reepham College celebrate their A-Level success (Image: Archant)

Principal Matthew Parr-Burman said 71pc of results at the college were graded A-C, a three per cent rise on last year.

'It's the best result for a number of years, certainly the best result for the last few years,' he said.

'We've had lots of fantastic individual results, we've got students off to Oxford and Cambridge for the seventh year.

'We don't select students on ability.

Eastern Daily Press: A-Level Students picking up results at Dereham Sixth Form 2016. Photo: Dereham Sixth FormA-Level Students picking up results at Dereham Sixth Form 2016. Photo: Dereham Sixth Form (Image: Dereham Sixth Form)

'We're serving the community, any student who wants to come here, we'll take them.

'The number of students who could go to university has doubled, we're certainly punching above our weight and I'm really proud of the students.'

Eastern Daily Press: Year 13s Poppy Bunting, Tina Bush, Abby Miller & Elise Sorrell after collecting their A-Level Results at Dereham Sixth Form 2016. Photo: Dereham Sixth Form.Year 13s Poppy Bunting, Tina Bush, Abby Miller & Elise Sorrell after collecting their A-Level Results at Dereham Sixth Form 2016. Photo: Dereham Sixth Form. (Image: Dereham Sixth Form)