BIG smiles lit up students’ faces as they opened their GCSE results at Felixstowe Academy today – with some outstanding sets of grades at the heart of the celebrations.

It was the first year of results for the new academy and staff were delighted with the grades, which were slightly up on the former Deben and Orwell high school results last year.

There was some concern over English results following a national marking problem, and teachers were expecting a number of appeals.

Among the celebrating students was Sarah Butcher, 16, who was thrilled with her seven A* and three A grades and is now planning to study A-levels in French, history, maths, English literature and chemistry at Farlingaye High School, Woodbridge.

“I am really happy. It was lots of hard work and I know there is lots more hard work ahead because I want to become a primary school teacher,” she said.

Lucy Ellery, 16, who hopes to become a doctor, didn’t expect her four A* and six A grades.

“It’s amazing. It’s been a bit of a worry during the summer and I didn’t expect this at all. We are having a family celebration tonight,” said Lucy will be attending Northgate High School sixth form for A-levels in chemistry, biology, maths and psychology.

India Clarke, 16, gained three A*, six As and a Distinction* at BTEC, and will be going on to Suffolk One in Ipswich for her A-levels.

“I am ridiculously happy – it’s brilliant. I am very interested in psychology and would like to use that to do trauma therapy and help people such as the soldiers who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan,” she said.

Jaye Wheeler, 16, gained ten A-C grades and a Distinction* at BTEC. “I am really pleased and would love to follow a career that combines art and science,” said Jaye, who is set for A-levels in biology, business, psychology and art.

Joanne Baldry, 16, hopes to become a doctor and said she was “pretty chuffed” with her five As, one A* and three Bs. She will be starting Felixstowe Sixth Form next month to study A-levels in chemistry, biology, physics, maths and critical thinking.

Lisa Caley, 16, was thrilled with her five As and five Bs. She hopes to become a teacher and will be going on to Felixstowe Sixth Form to do A-levels in history, English literature, art and ICT.

“I have done much better than I thought,” she said.

James Trivett, 16, who is aiming for a career in medicine, gained five As among his set of results and will be staying at Felixstowe Sixth Form to do A-levels in all the sciences, maths and music.

“It was hard work and I was a little bit worried over the summer but I have been working to keep my mind off it. I’m very, very pleased,” he said.

Headteacher Andrew Salter said 74 per cent of students gained five A*-C grades, two pc up on the previous schools, while for five A*-C including English and Maths the provisional figure – as there may be appeals – was 50pc.

“Almost 40pc of our students achieved the highest grades of A*-B, which is a fantastic achievement for each of them,” said Mr Salter.

“We are extremely proud of all of our students who have worked so hard to achieve good results this year in both GCSE and/or BTEC qualifications. We are really pleased that so many of our students achieved their targets with equally as many exceeding their own expectations.”