It was a day of celebration for hundreds of A-level students across the Waveney Valley today as they took one last trip back to school to collect their results.

Youngsters nervously gathered to tear open their envelopes at the Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, Bungay High School Sixth Form Centre and Langley School, near Loddon - and for the vast majority it was good news.

Students in Beccles celebrated another successful year with 65pc of students gaining A-levels graded A*-C, up 5pc on last year's results. And 96pc of pupils gained A-levels graded A*-E, up 2pc on the previous year. Students also collected their AS-levels, with 54pc graded A-C.

Michael Taylor, senior deputy headteacher, said: 'The school is delighted by the success of our students which this year's results reflect; improvements at AS, with our highest ever pass rate and number of students attaining A and B grades, will ensure our on-going, year-on-year improvement as a sixth form centre.

'Our headline figures at both AS and A2 also highlight the on-going focus the school has on improving results. A 4pc increase in the number of students achieving the highest grades at A2 (A*-B) is further underlined by the fact that Gregory Tate gained 4 A*s, closely followed by a number of other students who have achieved a 'handful' of A*/A grades.

'We are delighted that two of our students have secured their places at Cambridge University, Greg to read mathematics and Saskia Baylis English; and we wish all our students a successful future, as they move on to the next phase of their lives.'

Eighteen-year-old Saskia was over the moon with her results and has been accepted at Queens College Cambridge. She gained an A* in history, A* in English, A in maths and A in extended project.

She said: 'I didn't think I was going to get in so I was totally prepared to go to Bristol, my second choice.

'I'm feeling ridiculously good but it still hasn't properly sunk in yet.

'I really can't wait to go now, it was my ultimate goal and I have always wanted it.'

Over in Bungay there was similar success with 69pc of pupils gaining A-levels graded A*-C and 97pc gaining A-levels graded A* to E. There were also some outstanding individual performances with Wilfred Berry and Terence Vu gaining three A*s and one A, Guy Parker gaining three A*s, Sharon Lao, Tiffany Chan, Kalun Bedingfield and Chris Shave gaining one A* and three As, Daniel Sayer gaining two A*s, one A and one B, and Chris Rogers and Sophie Bell gaining four As and three As respectively.

Catherine Wiltshire, acting headteacher, said: 'The governors of Bungay High School and I would like to pass on our congratulations to the students, staff and parents of Bungay High School Sixth Form on the results achieved at A-level this year; this includes A-level courses and A-level equivalent vocational courses.

'Bungay High School results are up with an increased number of top grades which reflects the hard work of our students and staff, despite the national picture of results being down. The 119 Year 13 students, for their A-level results, achieved 630 points per candidate and their points per entry was 215.'

And at Langley School 80pc of students gained A-levels graded A*-C, with 99.5pc gaining A*-E and 36.5pc gaining A*-A. Two of the school's top achievers were Fabio Feser who gained two A*s and two As, and Sirawat Thepcharoen who gained two A*s and one A.

Dominic Findlay, school headmaster, said: 'We are absolutely delighted with the A-level results gained this year – they are a true testament of the hard work and dedication of both students and staff. For our students to increase the pc of A*/A grades obtained is especially pleasing when set against the Government desire to dampen down the top grades.

'All students are now able to go onto their next stage of either education or training with confidence. We wish them all the very best for the future.'