Teenagers in Lowestoft were celebrating their A-level results today.

At Lowestoft Sixth Form College, which opened its door in September 2011, 140 students took exams with 66pc of students gaining A*-C grades, a rise of 9pc compared to last year. A*-E results saw a pass mark of 98pc, an increase of 1pc on last year's set of results.

The percentage of students who gained three of more passes last week was 92pc.

One student also gained a place at Cambridge University, a first for the college.

College principal Yolanda Botham said: 'I am delighted that the collective effort and commitment of Lowestoft Sixth Form College staff and students is reflected today in our best results yet.

'24 separate A-level subjects achieved a brilliant 100pc pass rate, our vocational students have excelled too with 21 achieving the highest possible award of triple and double distinction star (equivalent to A* A* A*) and we have our first students off to Cambridge University.

'And it is important to say we have achieved this as an inclusive, non-selective local college.'

A steady stream of students collected their results throughout the morning.

Liam Jackson, 18, received As in economics and history and a B in politics to gain a place studying history and politics at Warwick University.

Liam is a member of the Suffolk UK Youth Parliament and would consider a career in the world of politics once he leaves university.

He said: 'Studying A-levels is a huge jump up from GCSEs and you have to be very confident in your revising. The teachers at the college have all been fantastic.'

Liam said Warwick University 'really clicked' for him when he went on an open day there.

And Sarah Adams the mother of 18-year-old Sam Adams was celebrating as she picked up his results as he was in America at a youth camp.

Sam, from Gunton is also off to Warwick University to study engineering after he got an A* in maths, A in physics and B in geography.

He hopes to become an engineer when he graduates.

Mrs Adams, 43, said the secret to her son's success was putting in long hours of revision and making sacrifices, such as missing out on family trips.

She said: 'He has worked so hard to get his grades and I am very proud of him.'

Emma Connolly, 18, has a special reason to thank Lowestoft Sixth Form College in gaining an A* in biology and As in chemistry and maths to help her enter the world of medicine.

Like all students joining the college, Emma, from Pakefield, was screened for dyslexia and was then diagnosed with the condition resulting in the college provided support on her studies.

Before she was diagnosed she found it hard to listen to people and take notes at the same time.

She will now spend a year on an apprenticeship at the intensive care unit at the James Paget University Hospital and then hopes to study medicine at the University of East Anglia or at Leeds or Manchester.

Before she goes on her hospital apprenticeship Emma will spend a month in volunteering in Ghana an trip organised by the Thrive Africa charity project.

Emma, who studied GCSEs at the former Kirkley High School said: 'The college was very supportive after I was diagnosed with dyslexia. All the teachers have been great.'

She said she would like to get into medicine and wanted to go to Africa as she 'liked helping people'.