THE nail-biting was over for hundreds of sixth-formers across East Hampshire today as the A level results came in.

There was jubilation in schools and colleges as excited students saw all their hard work pay off.

They gathered to celebrate with their classmates as establishments including Churcher’s College in Petersfield, Bedales at Steep and South Downs College at Portsmouth reported exam success.

As our athletes sweep the board in Rio, students at Churcher’s were flexing intellectual muscle and breaking records too.

It was an exceptional year for Oxbridge success with eight students achieving their offers and off to Oxford or Cambridge to read modern languages, chemistry, computer science, maths, medicine or engineering.

“It’s great to finally get the results and end all this stress. It’s been very hard work,” said Joe Elliott (18), of Hambledon, who achieved an A in English and A*s in chemistry, maths and further maths. He is taking up a place at St John’s College, Oxford, to study chemistry.

Lawrence Hollom collected five A*s after representing the UK in international maths competitions in Hong Kong and Russia.

At Churcher’s, 20 per cent of all the exams graded were at the highest A* level – this is double that of two years ago - and over half at A and A* grade.

“All our previous academic results are tumbling,” said headteacher Simon Williams. “Though we couldn’t be happier with the overall school results, it is the individual achievements of the A level students which allow them to move onto the most prestigious universities and courses in the country, and everything suggests that entry to first choice universities amongst this year’s students will be remarkably strong as well.”

South Downs College was delighted too that more students than ever before were in a position to go onto respected courses at university.

University applications by students there has risen by more than 100 this year, including those to Oxford and Cambridge.

Its overall pass rate was 97.1 per cent, with nearly half at A* to B grades.

Principal Mike Gaston said: “this is another successful year of A level and vocational results here at South Downs College, reflecting the extraordinary hard work and commitment of another year of students, and the staff who have taught and supported them.

“I am particularly pleased that, alongside our close partners at Havant Sixth Form College, we have enabled young people from the local region to achieve over 2,800 full A level pass grades. Based on today’s results, the journey towards our joint visit of excellence for the future has already begun.”

Student Anton Sukhorukov, who was previously at Ditcham Park School near Petersfield, gained an A* in computing, an A in maths and a distinction in BTEC music technology, despite being a year younger than his classmates.

Said Anton, who is off to Bristol University to study computer science with innovation, said: “I skipped a year at school, but I’ve managed to pick these results up and I’m chuffed,” he said. “It happens so fast and it’s an amazing feeling when you think all of the work you’ve done has paid off in the best way possible. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my chest. It’s fantastic.”