PLUME students have been celebrating their A Level results with record numbers of high grades achieved.

Natasha Layley, 18, scored a distinction star, B and C grades which included maths, English and product design, and will be going to the University of Portsmouth to study to become an architect.

She said: “Over the moon with this little piece of paper this morning, a lot of tears went into these exams, but it’s been worth it.

“I’ve now got another seven years of work to look forward to in my degree, which is practically the same amount of time we’ve spent at Plume.”

Rosie Vina got a distinction star in sports science, achieving 95 per cent, the highest mark recorded in the exam since 2009.

She also got a B in PE and C in psychology, and will be going to the University of Southampton to study sport.

She said: “It’s kind of surreal thinking I’ve got the highest grade in eight years in an exam, I still need to process it as being real, but I’m so pleased.”

Thomas Peear earned an A in maths, B in geography and B in physics, and will be going to the University of York to study accountancy.

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He said: “Accountancy and working with numbers has been something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I’m so pleased to have got into York, my first choice. It’s a very happy day.”

Sophie Mason got a double distinction star and two Bs, and will be taking on a cake decorating course at the Colchester Institute, with the hope of one day opening her own cake store.

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She said: “I’ve changed my mind a lot of times but have always found the time to bake and learn a bit about decorating. It’s a 20 week course so it’ll be intense, but I should learn a lot, and it should help me broaden my horizons.

“It’d be great to have my own brand one day, I’d like a simple name like Sophie’s Cakes.”

Chandler Kirby received an A* in maths and Bs in chemistry and physics. He’ll be taking his maths skills further to do a degree at the University of Lincoln.

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He said: “Very pleased with the maths grade, and so glad I got into my first choice.

“I’m excited to move to Lincoln, when I went for a look around something just clicked and I knew it was right.”

Martha Ball received an A*, two As and a B, and will be going to the University of Sheffield to study a joint honours degree in maths and Spanish.

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She said: “I’m an incredibly indecisive person, this joint honours was actually my third decision after two previous degree ideas.

“I find maths very relaxing and fun, and I’ve grown to like Spanish, it’s going to make an interesting degree. Sheffield looks so much fun, a friend has been pointing out all the cool things like cheap alcohol and cafes.”

Annabelle Martin-smith earned herself a distinction star, B and C grades in her subjects which included Photography and Art.

Next month, she is flying off to travel Europe and then Asia, with no fixed return date.

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She said: “I’m really happy with these, it’s what I was hoping for and now I can really look forward to seeing the world.

“I’m doing all of Europe first, then I’ll go into Asia. I’ll certainly be gone for more than a year, maybe even two. I’ve saved up for years to do this and now I can finally go.

“When I eventually come back I want to work with animals, one day even open up my own petting zoo or something else.”

Michael Lester came out with an A*, A and B, and has a confirmed place at the University of Sheffield to study Mechanical Engineering.

He has deferred for a year so he can have surgery on his legs so that he can walk unaided.

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He said: “I never in my life expected to be getting an A* grade, and yet I arrived today and got one in Physics, I genuinely couldn’t be happier.

“My place is deferred for a year so I can have some surgery done, and then get stuck in next year.”