There were smiles all round as students across Norwich found out their long-awaited A-level results.

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Despite some sixth form colleges reporting the number of A* to C grades being slightly down on last year, there were still plenty of success stories.

One of them was Thorpe St Andrew Sixth Form student Murray Chapman, whose dad is currently in hospital with a brain tumour.

The 18-year-old, who lives in Norwich, achieved four A*s in music, maths, history and an extended project, earning him a place at Cambridge University.

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Having played piano for the past 10 years, he will go on to study music at the university's prestigious Selwyn College.

'My dad is in hospital at the moment, so I am pleased to give him some good news,' Mr Chapman said.

'He was really excited about idea of me getting into Cambridge.'

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Thorpe St Andrew Sixth Form, which has around 185 pupils, said 78.1pc of A-level and AS level students received A* to C grades - a slight drop on last year's 83pc.

MORE: A-level results 2017: Full list of results from Norfolk and WaveneyPrincipal Ian Clayton said: 'I'm really pleased for students at the school today. It is about celebrating their achievements.

'Whatever those grades and results are, it is the individual stories of students who have worked hard and have got on to that next place.'

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Meanwhile, Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, on Bethel Street in the city centre, said 78pc of A-level students received an A* to C grades, compared to 80pc in 2016.

James Plumstead was the college's highest achiever, securing an impressive four A*s in maths, advanced maths, chemistry and physics.

The 18-year-old, who lives in Frettenham, has now earned a place at the University of Warwick, where he will go on to study maths.

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

He said: 'I was really nervous this morning, but I'm very happy with my results.'

The college's headteacher, Chris Jennings, said: 'We have had probably our happiest cohort of students ever this year. It is so pleasing to see so many now going to their university of choice. Over half of the grades are B or better and demonstrate the hard work put in by our students and staff.'

Sprowston Community High School, in Cannerby Lane, said 66pc of its A-level students received an A* to C grade.

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Another stand out student

Amber Johnson is another stand-out student from Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form College.

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

The 18-year-old, who lives in Weeting, near Brandon, feared the worst after having to leave her computer science exam early.

Despite only sitting half of the paper, she still secured an A - as well as an A* in maths and an A in further maths.

Miss Johnson, who said she had a bad panic attack during the exam, said: 'I felt sick and had to leave the with an hour-and-a-half left, but somehow still got an A.

Eastern Daily Press: A Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLYA Level results day. Thorpe St Andrew School. Abbie Noller, left, and Zoe Beasley. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

'My mum cried for the first time in her life when I told her my results and she told me she was proud of me.'

Despite her high grades and ambition to go into software engineering, it was still not enough to get into Imperial College London to study computer science.

Miss Johnson, who has instead been accepted into Bristol University, said she now intends to take a gap year and attempt to reapply to Imperial.

Eastern Daily Press: Amber Johnson is another stand-out student from Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form College. Photo: Luke PowellAmber Johnson is another stand-out student from Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form College. Photo: Luke Powell (Image: Archant)

Speaking about why she chose computer science, she said: 'I like how it is liked in with maths, and it is about solving problems and puzzles, which I like.'