There was cause to celebrate for students across the district this week with the release of the 2016 A-Level results.

At Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School in St Albans, most students gained a place at their first choice of university.

These included Nicole Kelly, who achieved AAA, Nathan Pinto with three As, Safiya Qureshi with A*AB, and Mathew Lockwood who received AAC.

Nicole, who will be attending Nottingham University to study English and philosophy, said: “I have had an incredible experience during my time at NBS and I couldn’t have asked for more encouragement and support from my teachers and staff.

“I have no doubt that it is due to the opportunities that I was offered and the achievements that I have made at NBS, which has resulted in me gaining my position at my first choice university.”

Headteacher Declan Linnane added: “Once again it has been another successful year for our students who have been waiting anxiously for their results.

“They should be proud of what they have achieved and their hard work has indeed paid off. These results demonstrate the outstanding efforts of students, parents and staff and this community should be proud of what they have achieved.”

St Albans Girls’ School (STAGS) students have achieved outstanding results this year with a record number of 18 students securing Oxbridge, medicine, veterinary and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) places and 26 students achieving A* and A grades alone.

Annie Morris, who has been accepted to read classics at Bristol said: “I’m really happy with my results and delighted that I get to go to uni thanks to STAGS.”

Emily Tomkinson said she couldn’t wait to get to Bournemouth to begin her film studies course and Nolwenn Lecompte who is going to Cambridge to read psychological and behavioural sciences, said the news hadn’t sunk in yet.

A spokesperson for the school added: “We are extremely proud of all of our A-Level students, they have worked so hard demonstrating great commitment and determination and have been rewarded with great successes - we congratulate everyone on their superb achievements.

“Enormous thanks go to the staff and parents who have so admirably supported all of our students throughout their learning journey.”

At Sir John Lawes School in Harpenden nearly 30 students received straight A*/A grades and all the students holding offers for Oxbridge and medicine achieved their places.

Tabi Noble, who received four A* grades said: “I couldn’t believe it when I opened the envelope – I never expected such great results!”

At Samuel Ryder Academy, every student gained a place at their first choice of university, including Warwick, Sussex and Reading.

The majority of results at Sandringham School were the highest grades of A*, A and B, with many gaining straight A*s and As. Almost every student celebrated gaining their first choice place from the top 40 universities in the country, with seven Oxbridge successes and three off to study medicine.

Beaumont School in St Albans saw several Year 13 students achieve straight A or A* grades, earning them places at prestigious universities including Oxford and Cambridge on competitive courses such as medicine, maths, social sciences and engineering.

In the private sector, St Columba’s College in St Albans celebrated a 100 per cent pass rate with this year’s results.

Most students were accepted by their first choice of university with 75 per cent of pupils achieving grades A*-C grades.

A further 44 per cent attained A*-B grades and head boy, Leo Harris, will be attending Durham University after receiving two A*s.

Over 90 per cent of pupils at St Albans School attained grades A*-B for the sixth year in a row, with student Ben Hemsi receiving four A*s to confirm a place at Oxford University.

Achieving three A*s and an A, James Kirsch and John Saunders will both take up places at Oxford to study engineering.

Among the students, 22 achieved at least two A* grades and almost half attained at least one A*.