Results day a mix of thrills and relief, say students

Lily Smith, 18, celebrated four A* grades with her proud mum and dad

Students celebrating A-level and T-level success have described results day as an emotional mix of thrills and relief.

Schools across Norfolk praised students' achievements, with one principal saying they were now off to study everything from "animation to neuroscience".

Figures from an exam watchdog showed a slight rise in the number of A-level students in Norfolk awarded the very top grades.

Ofqual said 23.6% of students received an A or A*, compared with 23.3% last year.

However, it reported the number of students in the county awarded grade C and above fell slightly to 72.6%, and remained below the national average.

Olivia, who studied at Fakenham Sixth Form, is already working as an apprentice primary school sports teacher

Among those opening their results was Olivia, 18, who studied at Fakenham Sixth Form.

She got a distinction in her sport BTec, a B in A-level photography and a merit grade for her health and social care Higher National Diploma (HND).

She has already started an apprenticeship and is hoping to become a primary school sports teacher.

Olivia said her sixth form was the ideal place for her to learn.

"It’s really helped because I’ve struggled academically this year, so having that extra help from teachers has pushed me to get a good grade," she said.

Head of Fakenham Sixth Form, Laura Marshall-Smith, says grades there were up

Sixth form head Laura Marshall-Smith said: "We've gone up quite significantly in our A and A* grades and our overall grades, so we couldn't be prouder."

She put the rise down to the hard work and focus of students and teachers.

Hannah did not have much time to celebrate - she had to go to work at her part-time job on the Sandringham Estate

Hannah, also a Fakenham student, needed three A grades to get into her first choice university.

"I opened my results and it was ABB.

"It was very overwhelming, but then I opened my UCAS and I'd gotten a place from my first choice. I was all just very emotional."

Hannah is going to Newcastle University to study psychology.

At Thomas Paine Sixth Form, in Thetford, 70% of grades were A* to C.

Principal Michael Fordham said: “Almost all our students gained their first-choice university place, with students heading off to study everything from animation to neuroscience."

Lily Smith, 18, who studied at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, in Gorleston, achieved four A* grades in environmental science, criminology, psychology and business studies.

"I'm planning on going to the University of Kent to study ecology and conservation.

"I'm very much relieved, but also lost for words."

Mum Julie said: "We are absolutely thrilled.

"There's a lot of expectation placed on youngsters of Lily's age, but she's done so well."

Kelly Skendi, a criminology lecturer who taught Ms Smith, said: "Since Covid, it's been a slow process building our young persons' confidence back up, but I think this year there was a real change in students.

"I saw a little more confidence coming through - students coming back for extra sessions, staying after college, and a real mature approach to their studies.

"That's shown in their results."

Dr Catherine Richards, principal of East Norfolk Sixth Form College, said she was "bouyant" about the results

College principal Dr Catherine Richards said grades were back to 2019 levels.

"We're really pleased and buoyant about the results," she said.

This year has also seen students complete T-levels, which are equivalent to three traditional A-levels and focus more on practical subjects.