The celebratory mood the county's pupils enjoyed during last weeks A-Level results was replicated today as Oxfordshire celebrated outstanding GCSE results.

Early indications showed the number of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades had increased since last year.

Students at The Cooper School in Bicester and Bicester Community College celebrated an improvement for the second year running.

Cooper's Alex Brown was especially pleased after achieving two A*s, eight As, one B and a C, as his parents paid him for each grade.

He said: "I get £50 for each A*, £40 for an A and £20 for a B. The money will go towards driving lessons. I am really happy. I thought I would have got more B grades than As."

At Abingdon School, 38 boys racked up seven A*s or more - with two boys, Alexander Muir and Geoffrey Penington, gaining 12 A*s plus two grade As at AS Level.

Headteacher of Wallingford School, Wyll Willis, said he was "delighted" by the combination of last week's A-Level results and the school's best ever GCSE results.

The percentage of pupils gaining A*s to Cs increased by four percent over last year to 68.1 per cent- taking the pass rate increase to 18 per cent over the last three years.

Maria Frykfor, of East Hagbourne, who got eight A* passes, said: "It means I will be coming back to school in September to start studying for my A-Levels - I am thrilled to bits to have gained these passes."

Mr Willis added: "Wallingford should be proud of this school - these youngsters are achieving great results, working extremely hard and they are a credit to Wallingford."

Ruth Swift, 15, of John Mason School in Abingdon gained one A*, six As and three B grades.

She said: "I'm really happy as I didn't expect to do so well.

"I was really nervous, I was shaking in the car."

Her mother Alison said: "This has been a really good school.

"They have seen her through and tracked it well. They have been brilliant."

Headteacher Di Mashiter said: "Behind these excellent results sits a tremendous amount of hard work, commitment and dedication from students, their teachers and their parents."

Didcot Girls' School, in Manor Crescent, also celebrated good results.

Natalie Render, 16, picked up her results - one A*, 11 As and one B grade - from the school.

She said: I didn't expect the A* in science. I felt sick this morning as I didn't know what to expect. I am so happy."

Andrew Hamilton, headteacher at Eynsham's Bartholomew School said the results were record-breaking, with three students gaining 12 A* or A grades.

Wood Green School in Witney had 20 teenagers gaining 10 or more A or A* grades, with 75 per cent of all grades As or A*s.

Headteacher Cym Savage said: "They are our best results ever and we are absolutely delighted."

At Witney's Henry Box School headteacher Nicky Edmondson described results as "fantastic" and a significant improvement on last year.

Clare Musgrave, 16, passed all 10 subjects with A* to C grades.

She said: "That's what I wanted and I'm glad I did really well in arts and music."

Imogen Ebanja, 16, was also delighted after picking up 11 passes, all A*, A and B grades.

Boys at St Birinus School in Didcot achieved a 98 per cent pass rate for grades A* to G.

Headteacher Chris Bryan said: "This is a tremendous tribute to the hard work, determination and commitment demonstrated by our students together with the support they have had from parents and teachers.

"These results provide students with an excellent foundation for further education."

King Alfred's School in Wantage paid tribute to "a lot of hard work by pupils and staff" as the results showed an improvement for the school for the sixth consecutive year.

Results showed 23 of their students gained eight or more passes at A* or A grades, beating last year's figure of 22.