Two years of hard work has paid off for hundreds of students, with sixth forms in Beccles, Bungay and Langley all celebrating an improvement in results.

The wait was finally over for students yesterday as they gathered at the Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, Bungay High Sixth Form Centre and Langley School to collect their envelopes.

And it was good news for all three schools, with the highest ever grades for Beccles and Bungay students.

At the Sir John Leman, 71pc of students achieved A* to C grades, up from 70pc last year and 65pc in 2014.

Executive headteacher Jeremy Rowe said: “We are delighted with the results. 100pc of our students achieved A to E so everyone got a grade and 9pc of our students achieved A*s.

“The grades have gone up for the last few years so we are very pleased.

“We’ve got one student going to medical college and one going to veterinary college and lots of students are going to their first choice universities.

“The students and teachers have all worked really hard so it is a real credit to them.”

Eighteen-year-old Marcus Dyer was over the moon with his results, achieving two A*s in chemistry and biology and an A in maths. He has been awarded a scholarship to study medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich.

He said: “I’m thrilled. It is a really good result and better than I had hoped.

“Having a scholarship was my motivation to keep going. It’s the icing on the cake.”

And George Milton, 18, got a spot at his first choice university in Bath to study maths. He achieved two A*s in maths and PE and an A in further maths.

He said: “I can’t quite believe it. I’m really amazed.

“It’s a big weight off my shoulders and it’s just good to finally know.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to going to university now.”

At Bungay High Sixth Form, 79pc of students achieved A* to C grades, up from 70pc last year and 69pc in 2014.

Headteacher Angelo Goduti said: “We are immensely proud of our students’ achievements and these results reflect their hard work, commitment and determination.

“The governors and I would like to pass on our congratulations to the students, staff and parents of Bungay High Sixth Form on the excellent results achieved this year.”

Among the students celebrating was 18-year-old Anna Berry, who achieved one A* and two As and will be studying archaeology at York University.

“I was really relieved,” she said. “It was a difficult two years but the results are really good this year.”

Felix Prutton will be heading to Downing College in Cambridge to study natural sciences after getting two A*s and three As - the highest results in the school.

He said: “It feels really good. It has been a lot of work and it has been difficult but it has all been worth it - I’m ecstatic.”

And Eleanor Watkinson’s A*, A and B grades mean she was able to confirm her place to study English Literature at Lancaster University.

“There was such a long wait to find out and it’s very difficult not to be nervous,” she said. “This year has been particularly hard - the hardest year of my life!

“We’ve all worked hard and it has all been worth it.”

And at Langley Sixth Form, 80pc of students achieved A* to C grades, up from 77pc last year.

Headmaster Dominic Findlay said: “We are delighted with the A-level results gained this year which show an increase in the percentage of grades achieved in the A* to C category.

“Our top pupils gained some stunning results with straight A*s and As across the board, and many students exceeded their expectations which is a true testament of the hard work and dedication of both the students and staff.”

The school celebrated some sporting success with Harry Mahoney, who has had a successful season playing for the Leicester Tigers Academy, being offered a full-time professional contract with the club from next season. He also achieved his target of three A-levels. And Alex Mitton juggled England wheelchair basketball commitments with his academics and managed to achieve an A and two Bs.

Best friends and heads of school Eleanor Knight and Ellie Payne achieved two A*s and an A and one A* and two As respectively. Eleanor has received an unconditional offer from Reading University and Ellie is taking a year out to decide what she wants to do next.