THERE were plenty of individual success stories at Oxford secondary schools as they celebrated a record-breaking A-Level year.

Pupils jumped for joy yesterday as Cheney School, The Cherwell School and Oxford Spires Academy all enjoyed their most successful results.

A record number of students from Cheney School have won places to study at Oxford or Cambridge.

The school in Headington had five pupils with confirmed places, with a further three waiting to hear back on a final decision.

More than a third of entries – 37 per cent – resulted in A* to A grades and 57 per cent A* to B.

Head girl Billie Meadowcroft was overjoyed to find out she will be reading natural sciences at Cambridge.

She got three A*s, in maths, further maths and physics, and an A in chemistry.

She said: “I was so nervous I felt like it could have gone either way. I’m so relieved.”

The 18-year-old from Iffley Fields added: “The attitude of the whole year is great. We all worked really hard and have been ambitious for a long time.

“The teaching, particularly in the science department, is very good here. There’s always been someone to help and support you.”

Students at The Cherwell School impressed with a number of pupils scoring multiple A*s, and more than half the 256 entries were graded A* to B.

Joe Clayton, 18, of Wolvercote, got three A*s, in history, English and maths, and said: “It’s been crazy. I’m off to Bristol to study philosophy and politics.”

Oxford Spires Academy’s students raised the bar once again at the ever-improving East Oxford school. More than 40 per cent of entries resulted in A* to B grades and 96 per cent were A*to E. The school’s best performer was Laura Thomas from Blackbird Leys, who praised her teachers after obtaining 2A*s and 2As.

The 18-year-old, whose A*s came in maths and an extended project, will be reading maths at Manchester.

She said: “I have always worked hard but it had definitely been a jump from GCSEs. I am just very relieved.”

Students at City of Oxford College rejoiced after results were in line with last year, with 99 per cent of papers at grades A* to E, but the percentage of A* to B grades fell from 37.7 to 34 per cent. Ross Biddle, 19, achieved 3 A* grades, in biology, chemistry and psychology, and said: “The teachers have been incredibly supportive.”

Pupils at St Gregory the Great Catholic School also celebrated promising results, with a seven per cent increase in the number of students receiving grades A* to A compared to last year.