STUDENTS have said the key to passing A Levels is to work hard...and play hard.

Students who sat exams this summer have scooped some of the most sought-after university places and achieved higher grades than last year.

At Colchester County High School for Girls, at least five students were over the moon when they found out they were heading off to Oxford or Cambridge universities.

Isy Santini, 18, achieved an A* and three As and is off to Cambridge University to study a very niche subject - Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic.

Halstead Gazette:

She said: “You look at all of the cultures that came to England before the Norman Conquest, I got really into Arthurian legends as a child.

“My favourite is the Anglo-Saxon side as I really like Old English.

“I have met seven people online who have got offers but I don’t know anyone else who is studying it.”

She said her parents also found the subject interesting and they were pleased their daughter was able to do something which made her happy.

Elena Edmondson, 18, from Harwich, achieved an A* and two As. She is now going to study chemistry at the University of Warwick.

She said: “I’m so shocked but I’m so happy. I can’t believe it.

“I worked so hard and it was really difficult at times to stay motivated but you just have to keep on working.”

Kiriana Granger, 18, cried with her mum Andrea when she realised she had achieved an A* and two As.

She said: “I have worked really hard for them and I’m really happy, the car journey here was torturous. I want to go and study medicine.”

Mum Andrea said: “She has worked so hard, it’s unbelievable.”

Katherine Cook, Rachel Cox and Aisha Lawson also achieved five A*s or As.

Colchester Royal Grammar School also boasted top results. Kasun Munasinghe, 18, from Colchester, said the reason why he achieved five A*s and an A was because he still made time to see his friends.

He said: “I think it’s really stressful but you have to put the work in otherwise you are not going to get the results.

“It’s also about having fun, you need to be able to work hard and play hard.

“I went out a lot with my friends but when I got home from school I would do three or four hours of revision a day.”

He is now going to study medicine in Birmingham.

Meerav Shah, 18, from Colchester, also attends the grammar school and achieved five A*s. He said the revision period was difficult and prolonged but he was happy with the results.

He said: “I have been lucky as I have been able to do other things - I do tech for musicals and I’m a Scout leader.

“Initially it was hard to balance but you get into a routine. It’s all about time management.”

He is excited to be studying a combined honours in social science at Durham University.

Delfi Dorussen, 18, from Wivenhoe, also achieved 5 A*s. She even managed to get an A* in Dutch last year.

Halstead Gazette:

She said: “It was stressful as I was revising a lot but the school was really supportive.

“I’m going to study natural sciences at Cambridge - Cambridge was a dream I was working towards but I tried to be realistic as it’s really competitive.” Head teacher John Russell said: “These results are a testament to the professional attitude of our students and the remarkable level of support the staff provide.”

Three students from Colchester Sixth Form College also secured places at Oxford and Cambridge - Rose Arbuthnot, Madeleine Chia and Liam McKenna.

Rose achieved four A*s. She said: “I wasn’t expecting it, I worked really hard and now I’m going to study veterinary medicine at Cambridge.”

Madeleine, from Tiptree, achieve three A*s and an A.

She previously went to St Benedict’s College in Colchester and said: “It’s a lot of hard work but I’m really pleased. I’m now going to study psychology at Cambridge.”

Liam, from Colchester, achieved two A*s and two As. He previously studied at Philip Morant School.

He said: “I have been working really hard but I never expected this, I’m going off to study Law at Oxford.”

There was a 100 per cent pass rate in 37 A-level courses and more than 1,000 students have now obtained the necessary qualifications to get into university.

Halstead Gazette:

Staff at the Colne Community School and College in Brightlingsea were also delighted to report an excellent pass rate.

A total of 96 per cent passed, with 41 per cent achieving A* or A.

The school was particularly pleased, as a specialist college, that sport achieved exceptional results again.

Matthew Suttenwood, head of school, said: “I am delighted all the students’ and teachers’ hard work has culminated in a successful group of results. “The Sixth Form College is growing and the results reflect its vibrant nature.”

Philip Morant School and College has also gone from strength to strength with a 99 per cent pass rate.

John Lovett, who is head of the sixth form college, said: “I am so proud of our students’ achievements and would like to congratulate them on another set of outstanding results.

“Our close-knit college community means we work very closely with our students, support them continuously throughout their studies and build excellent relationships, and this set of results clearly reflects this.” Mr Lovett also commented on the VI6 project - where students study at Essex University for some A-level courses – which has reaped significant results.

Nationally, top A Level grades have also increased for the first time in six years.