AS exam results poured in this morning (Thursday)schools across the district gained record results.

After an anxious wait there was joy as students celebrated gaining places on top university courses.

At Chigwell School in High Road, Chigwell, over half of the students gained an A grade and 84 per cent achieved a B grade or above.

Of the 84 'A'-level students, 27 achieved at least three A* or A grades, 10 achieved at least four A* or A grades and two gained five or more A* or A grades.

Headmaster, Mr Michael Punt, said: “I am thrilled that so many Chigwell students have achieved such high standards, enabling them to move on to exciting university courses. <</p>

“This year group contributed a great deal to the life of the School and we wish them every success for the future.”

Tom Kennedy, 18, of Kings Avenue in Woodford Green, gained and A*, two As and a B.

“Taking four ‘A’-levels I had quite a bit of work, but just thought that if I do not do an extra exam I would be nothing better with that time. I thought I may as well give it a go and am glad it paid off.”

Mr Kennedy said he would be accepting an offer from Nottingham University to study history and intended to go on take a law conversion course.

“A good friend will also be taking history at Nottingham, and most of my friends are pretty pleased with their results.

“I’ll be going to a pub for lunch to celebrate and then we're going to a club tonight.”

West Hatch High School in Chigwell gained its best ever ‘A’-level results, With 78 per cent of pupils gaining A-C grades.

Seven students gained three A* or A’s at 'A'-level.

100 per cent pass rates were gained in twenty four subjects and 10 A* grades were achieved.

Headteacher Frances Howarth said: “We are delighted that so many of our students have done so well. They and their teachers have worked very hard and thoroughly deserve these results.”

Zak Soithongsuk, 18, who lives in Churchfields, South Woodford, gained three A* grades.

He said: “I am gobsmacked, I never thought that I would get three A* grades.

“I am working tonight but I will be going to V Festival this weekend to celebrate.”

Mr Soithongsuck turned down an offer from Cambridge University to study law at Nottingham University.

“Cambridge did not really appeal to me that much. I am not yet sure I will go on to practice law but the course there is excellent.”

At Davenant Foundation School in Loughton there were more success stories.

163 students sat 'A'-level exams, with 55 per cent achieving A*, A or B grades and over a quarter of grades being A* or A.

Thirteen students achieved three A grades and four gained four A grades, with two of these gaining places at Oxbridge and two at Durham.

Paul Ryan-Brown, 18, of Palmerston Road in Buckhurst Hill, said: “I am mainly just relieved. I expected to do well but not that well.

“When I went to collect my results I felt like I was in a bubble. The teacher gave me the thumbs up so I knew I had done OK.”

Mr Ryan-Brown attributed his success to his traditional revision style: “I got the books and took lots of notes, I think it gave me a greater breadth of reading than some candidates.

“I have been on the phone to several members of my family this morning and they are over the moon.”

Mr Ryan-Brown will be going to Durham University to study French and intends to go on and practice law.

Davenant’s Headteacher, Chris Seward, recognised the determination of his students to succeed: “There is a strong ethos of achievement among our students with a real sense of them supporting each other to do their best. Apart from strong teaching and committed support from parents at home, this is a key factor in the success culture that exists at Davenant.”

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