Staff and students at Springwood High School in King's Lynn were celebrating their best-ever results today.

One fifth of the grades achieved were either A* or A which is the best ever in the school's history, while there was a 100pc pass rate in 21 subjects.

Head Andy Johnson said: 'It's just fantastic, we've got people into Oxford, we've got people into cambriddge, we've got two into veterinary science, one into medicine and lots into red brick universities.'

Staff shook hands and hugged the stream of young people as they filed in to collect the dreaded envelopes. This year many already knew how they'd fared, having received e-mails informing them their results had been good enough to earn them a place on their chosen course.

Sam Miller's two A's and a B in biology, chemistry and psychology won him a place at Bristol to read medicine.

'I've wanted to do it for quite a while,' he said. 'It's the fact I can do a job helping people that's so intense.'

Tim Riseborough's three straight A's in biology, chemistry and maths earned him a place to read veterinary sciendce at Nottingham. 'It's what i've always wanted to do,' he said.

His friend Josh Williams, who achieved A's in maths and biology and a B in chemistry, will be joining him on the course.

Hannah Crosby who achieved A*A*A* A grades in chemistry, maths, further maths and physics, will study Maths at Warwick University.

Ben Coote who achieved A*A* A grades in maths, further maths, geography and physics, will study maths at Durham.

Louis Runcieman who achieved A*AAA grades in maths, further maths, chemistry and physics will study mathematics at Manchester University.

Marcus Hawes, who achieved A*AA grades in maths, further maths and physics, has the choice of either studying engineering at Oxford University or accepting a management sponsored training opportunity at Rolls Royce.

Emily Driver, who achieved A*AA grades in English, German and history, will study English and German at Queen Mary College, London.

Bethany Mendham, who achieved A*AA grades in english, art and media, will go on to study art once she has completed a foundation course at the College of West Anglia.

Michael Burdett, who achieved AAA grades in biology, geography and maths, will go on to study geography at Newcastle University.

Aimee Evans, who achieved AAA grades in biology, maths and PE who will go on to study sport and exercise science at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Sophie Strudwick, who achieved AAA grades in French, maths and music, will go on to study music at Oxford University.

Jordan Tinkler who achieved AAA grades in biology, chemistry and maths, hopes to go on to study Medicine after taking a year out.

Other Norfolk scholars (those achieving a minimum of ABB grades or two A grades at A-level) were;

Sam Bailey (ABB - maths, biology and PE), Oliver Barnes (ABB double ICT and psychology), Becky Clark (*AAB – sociology, history and classical civilisations), Jade Clipperton (AAC – performing arts and health & social care), Rachel Foreman (ABB - maths, biology and chemistry), Lauren Franklin (*AAB – history, english literature and psychology), Jessica Freeland (ABB – biology, french and history), Jack Jarvis (AAAB double ICT, maths and geography), Natalie Moore (ABB – fine art, ICT and psychology), Emily Parker (AAB – maths, geography and biology), Susie Tennant (AAB – business, ICT and maths).