Sixth form students at Felixstowe Academy are today looking forward to life at university after gaining the A-levels they needed for the next stage in their education.

There were some outstanding successes at the school, which this year moved into a new £19million building in Walton HIgh Street.

However, overall, the performance fell this year with the 60 students gaining a 56% pass rate at A* to C, compared with 70% last year, and 95% A* to E, compared with 97% in 2013.

Student numbers were also down by 21 with large numbers of teenagers still preferring to get on buses every day and go out of town for sixth form at schools in Ipswich.

Among those celebrating was Tarryn Stuart, who secured four A grades and is now planning to take a year out.

She said: “Before I go to university to study psychology, I am going to take a year out to gain some work experience in a health care business before spending some time travelling.”

Sasha Lawson-Frost will be reading philosophy at University College London after achieving A* grades in English literature and history among six A-level qualifications, while Joanne Baldry gained A-levels in biology, chemistry and maths and has a place at the University of Brighton to study bio medicine.

Byron Melton, Daniel Read and Megan Fitzgerald were all celebrating double awards of Distinction* grades alongside their A Level results.

Byron was delighted that his Distinction* grades in media studies and travel and tourism with A-level grades in English language and French securing his place at the University of Portsmouth to study for his degree in Journalism.

Daniel’s Distinction* grades in business studies and PE, alongside A-level grades in applied science and ICT, ensured he will be studying for his sports and exercise science degree at Nottingham Trent University.

Megan is off to the University of Bedfordshire for a degree in education studies, with Distinction* grades in business studies and health and social care and A-levels in sociology and English language, aiming to become a primary school teacher.

Teachers were delighted with the progress made in English – with all English literature students achieving A* to C grades, with 75% gaining A*/A grade, and 68% of English language entrants achieving A* to C. More than half of maths students, and all further maths students, gained A* to C.

There was also a second year of growth in the achievement of Distinction*/Distinction grades within BTEC vocational courses.

Principal Andrew Salter said: “Once again I am delighted that we have been able to support all our students in obtaining results that they thoroughly deserve, and wish all of them the very best of luck in their future education and career.”

Head of sixth form Darryl James said: “In view of the A level reforms and the withdrawal of the January exam series, I am so pleased that so many of our students and staff have achieved very good grades. It was particularly pleasing to see the progress made by our students in vocational courses which seem to go from strength to strength.”