Emily Peat, of Freshbrook, is well on the way to achieving her goal of becoming a vet, having scored five A*s and six As.

"I'm very, very happy," said the 16-year-old. "I did loads of revision." Emily is to study chemistry, biology, maths and psychology A-Levels. Philippa Handley, 16, of Grange Park, said she was planning to celebrate after getting two A*s, seven As, one B and two Cs. "I'm definitely glad they're all over," she said. "My grades were much better than I expected.

"I must have fluked it because I didn't do that much revision."