ECSTATIC students at Ulverston Victoria High School celebrated after their hard work paid by securing them first-class grades to cement their places at some of the best university and apprenticeship schemes in the country.

After months of waiting to find out what grades they had secured, eager Year 13 students turned up in droves earlier this morning to rip open envelopes and reveal their A-Level results - and they weren't disappointed.

Seventy-five per cent of pupils managed to bag places at their first-choice universities with a third of students accepted into an elite "Russell Group" university.

Some students also gained places on highly sought-after apprenticeship schemes with BAE Systems and Ulverston-based accountancy firm J.F. Hornby.

The pass rate once again remained at 99 per cent, meaning that all of the schools pupils experienced A-Level success.

One of those who did exceedingly well was Catriona Fraser, who earned three A*s in history, biology and English literature as well as an A in creative writing.

The 18-year-old will now go on to study English literature at the prestigious University of Oxford and can't wait to get stuck into life at one of the best universities in the world.

She said: "I am pretty happy and quite surprised at how well I've done, I was not expecting to do so well. Oxford has a really great three-year English course and I just can't wait to get started now and experience university life."

READ MORE: South Cumbria apprentices tell of success one year on from A-Levels

South Cumbria apprentices tell of success one year on from A-Levels

Classmates Dan Egglestone and Ben Cooper also surpassed their own expectations by bagging A* and A grades as they both secured places to study at Durham University.

Dan, who will go on to read history, said: "I am thrilled, I can't describe how happy I am. I was worried for so long because I did not think that I was going to get in so I am relieved that the stress has now just disappeared."

One man who was pleased to see so many students achieve their goals was the school's head of sixth form, Rob Rastelli, who has overseen the pupils develop into mature young adults.

He said: "I am delighted for them because ultimately their aim is to move on into some fantastic careers and we are just the stepping stone which allows them to do that.

"To see so many students get their into their first-choice universities is incredibly pleasing and it is just the culmination of two years of hard work.

"They are a really eclectic bunch of personalities who have very high aspirations in life and I am certain that plenty of them will be in fantastic jobs in three or four years' time and we want them all to keep in touch and let us know how they are getting on."

Headteacher, Denis Fay, echoed Mr Rastelli's praises after the school recorded another year's worth of excellent results.

He said: "We've had another great set of examination results which reflect the hard work and talents of the students, as well as the dedication and expertise of the staff.

"There have been some amazing individual performances and I hope that all of our departing students have enjoyed all of their experiences at Ulverston Victoria High School."

Deputy head girl, Tiffany Walmsley, who has aspirations of pursuing a career in medicine, was overcome with emotion as she bagged an A* in maths and two As in chemistry and physics.

READ MORE: Ulverston sixth form cream of the crop for maths

Ulverston student delighted with Oxford offer

Tiffany's outstanding results assured her of a place at Edinburgh University to study chemical physics but she had a nervous wait to find out if Aberdeen University would offer her a place to read medicine.

The 18-year-old did particularly well as she also tutored dance and science at Dowdales School in Dalton during the revision period.

She said: "I am absolutely over the moon. I knew that I needed to do well to get off the waiting list so I am very relieved. I think doing the extra tutoring helped because it used my brain a bit more and it did give me a break from drowning myself in books."

Tiffany's form tutor, Alison Smith, was also relieved to hear how well the 18-year-old had done.

She said: "I am just delighted, the results overall have been brilliant but Tiffany has worked exceptionally hard for two years so I am really pleased.

Despite the nationwide changes to AS-Level exams, which has seen some institutions scrap them altogether, Year 12 pupils at UVHS also recorded an incredible set of results which will put them in good stead for the next academic year.

Head of the school, Matthew Hardwick, said: "The achievements of our students reflect not only their own hard work and commitment, but also the dedication and quality of our teaching staff and the superb support given by parents and families.

"UVHS is a true learning community, providing a traditional and challenging A Level curriculum and these results show how all areas of a student’s life can come together to provide the very best opportunities for their futures.”

For the complete list of A-Level results from the UVHS class of 2016, click here.