There were tears of joy at Hackney schools and sixth forms this morning as hundreds of students received their A Level results.

Last year’s success – as students gained the borough’s best ever A-level results - will be a hard act to follow but there were many smiles, as well as a few frowns, as nervous teenagers ripped open their envelopes to reveal the results of two years’ hard work.

Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form congratulated pupils on their grades, with more than half of students at the school in Clissold Road gaining B grades or above.

Head teacher Annie Gammon said: “We are very proud of all our sixth form students and their achievement in both A level and vocational courses. They have worked hard and deserve their success.”

It was an early start for sixth form pupils at Mossbourne Community Academy, who arrived at their school in Downs Park Road at 8am to collect their results.

Staff were delighted that several high-achieving students had secured places at Oxbridge.

Students at Clapton Girls’ Academy, Laura Place, applauded each other as they received their results.

Head teacher Cheryl Day said: “The overview of results is great. We have improved from last year enormously so we are absolutely delighted.

“Our sixth form teaching is getting better and better. It has grown every year and with these results it’s going to grow even more.”

Clapton Girls’ student Ayesha Begum, 18, said she was “really excited” to find out she had achieved four A grades and a place at UCL to study pharmacy.

“It was really hard work but the teachers helped me a lot so thank you to them,” she said.

Our Lady’s Convent High School has one of the smaller sixth forms, with just 39 students receiving A Level results this summer.

Head teacher Jane Gray said: “So far all the students have got what they were hoping to which is great. In the end that is what matters most.

“This is my favourite time of the year when you see the results of all their hard work.”

Head girl Inez Sarkodee-Adoo, 18, said she was “really nervous” because her results were “not as expected” but she still secured her place at Bristol University to study Politics and Sociology.

For full coverage, see next week’s Gazette.

Information about clearing is available at www.ucas.com/clearing. Contact the UCAS helpline (open until 7pm on results day) on 0871 468 0468 or call the Exam Results Helpline for independent advice on post-exam options on 0808 100 8000.