Students across the county were in celebratory mood after learning they had contributed to a record year of GCSE results.

Early evidence suggests the number of Oxfordshire teenagers achieving five or more A* to C grades is likely to increase on last year's figure of 56.5 per cent.

Following on from plenty of success at A Level last week, schools in west Oxfordshire continued to display academic excellence at GCSE.

At Bartholomew School, in Eynsham, 16-year-old Bethan Dalton said she couldn't sleep the night before for worry. But she need not have panicked, having picked up seven A*s and five As.

Lizzie Hope had similar results and said: "I put in a lot of hard work but didn't really expect to do so well."

The school achieved an overall pass rate of 93 per cent with 77 per cent gaining five A* to C grades.

Headteacher Andrew Hamilton said: "These record-breaking results continue to improve upon the excellent results of the last five years."

Twins Nadia and Freya Dale-Holcome took home a total of 20 A* and A grades between them to be the star performers at Woodstock's Marlborough School.

At Chipping Norton School, headteacher Simon Duffy said: "Our results will put the school very much in the limelight as far as league tables are concerned."

A total of 188 students chalked up a 99.5 per cent pass rate, while 70 per cent gained A* to C grades, the best ever.

Witney's Wood Green School was also celebrating a "best ever" with 12 students gaining straight A and A*s in all subjects, including star performer Wayne Goodall, with 11 A*s.

At Bicester Community College, Alexandra Smith took top honours, gaining 16 A* to C grades, 13 of which were A* or A as well as an AS Level in maths and an A grade in AS sociology.

Alexandra, of Meredith Close, Bicester, said: "I felt sick before getting my results. Despite being predicted these results I can't believe it."

She will now study for A-Levels in biology, chemistry, history and maths in the school's sixth form.

She was part of a record-breaking year, with 52 per cent of pupils gaining five or more grades A* to C.

Headteacher Cynthia Bartlett said: "We're very pleased that so many students have achieved their potential and have gained grades which will enable them to take up a wide variety of A-Level courses."

There were smiles all round at The Cooper School, in Bicester, too.

Candice Ashmore-Harris achieved eight A*s, two As and a B and said: "I'm really pleased. I worked really hard to get these results. I was pretty confident I was going to do well."

Classmate Daniel Thomas gained two A*s, six As and three Bs, which he hopes will eventually take him on to medical school after A-Levels at Gosford Hill, in Kidlington.

He said: "I am very happy and, to be honest, totally amazed that I have done so well. English Literature was my worst subject and I got an A*.

"When I woke up this morning I wanted to go back to sleep, as I didn't want to find out my results."

In Abingdon, Fitzharry's School headteacher Susan Tranter said she was delighted with the school's best ever set of results, with 58 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades.

She said: "We have, for the third year in succession, the best results in the school's history. Congratulations to our students and thank you to their teachers."

At Larkmead School, in Abingdon, headteacher Chris Harris said he was pleased with the performance of students at every level, although the pass rate of those achieving five A* to C grades was slightly below target at 39 per cent.

Eight students gained at least 10 A* and As and one, Dylan Townley, achieved one of the top five marks in the country for English Literature by failing to drop a point.

At King Alfred's in Wantage, 67 per cent of students achieved grades A* to C to take a new record.

Principal Nick Young said: "These are record results for King Alfred's and show a five per cent improvement on last year.

"Congratulations to all our students and their teachers. We are very ambitious and our aim is to up this to 80 per cent in the coming years."

In Didcot, pupils at St Birinus School exceeded expectations with 51 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades.

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 their teachers and parents."

Star pupil James Reid was delighted to discover he had passed with an impressive 10 A*s and two A grades.

Fellow students Joe Turner and John Salmons also achieved 10 A* or A grades.

Joe, who plans to do A-Levels in music, English, French and history, said: "I'm pretty happy. I was a bit surprised about some of my marks, because I thought I'd messed them up a bit."

There weren't so many smiles at neighbouring Didcot Girls' School, where some pupils were disappointed, despite 10 girls achieving 12 A* and A grades.

Headteacher Paula Taylor-Moore said: "The results are not as good as they should be. We achieved 58 per cent A* to C when we should have got 70 per cent. But there are some lovely individual successes. Our maths results were brilliant but we were disappointed with science.

"The girls who we thought would do well weren't as successful, but the weaker girls got the grades they wanted."

At Wallingford School, 62 per cent of pupils achieved grades A* to C.

Headteacher Wyll Williscorr said: "These results are very pleasing for us. They show that the improved discipline in the school, aimed at letting teachers teach and youngsters learn without disruption, has proved positive.

"All the students and staff deserve praise for the way they have worked and achieved this year.

In Banbury, Catherine Weaver, head of Blessed George Napier School, said: "It's so nice being surrounding by cheering teenagers. I'm really, really pleased with them."

The overall pass rate there was 92 per cent with 61 per cent gaining five A* to C grades.