STUDENTS were celebrating across Dorset today after scooping record GCSE results.

At Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, Alexandra Joy and Hugh Warrington gained 11 A* grades and in Weymouth, Jack Turner from Wey Valley School notched up eight A*s and a further two A grades in his exams.

Alexandra, from South Court Avenue in Dorchester, said that her top grades had been predicted by her teachers, but she had not believed them.

She said: "I'm quite scared - everyone will begin to expect things from me now.

"I was convinced it wasn't going to happen - when I looked back at the work I did, I knew I could have done more.

"I didn't overdo it on the work - I definitely did quite a bit of partying!

"I don't know what I want to do later, but I'll be doing four A-levels, plus general studies, and I may go into management."

Alexandra's grades formed part of Thomas Hardye School's best-ever GCSE results, where 73 per cent of pupils gained five or more A-C grades.

And student Jack Turner has come top of the class after scooping the best GCSE results in Weymouth.

The 15-year-old Wey Valley School pupil is over the moon after notching up eight A*s and two A grades in his exams.

Jack, who was head boy at Wey Valley, said: "I am very happy and pleased with my results.

"I am still in shock. I did work really hard for my exams for about three months beforehand, but I am still amazed that I did so well.

"I got my A*s in English, English literature, French, two sciences, PE, music and food technology and I got two As for maths and IT.

"My family and friends are all thrilled for me and we have got lots of celebrating to do."

Jack, who lives in Radipole, added: "I am now really looking forward to starting at Weymouth College in September to do my A Levels, which will be in maths, psychology, English literature and sports studies."

Wey Valley headteacher, Marcia Headon, said: "Jack Turner has done exceptionally well but I am delighted with the results across the board.

"Everyone has done very well and worked very hard and these are our best results yet."

She added: "We have a clutch of students who have gained A*s and As as well as other students who have also been awarded good grades, so we are all very pleased with the results."

School heads across the county have recorded record GCSE exam results with an increasing number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades.

On Portland, pupils at Royal Manor School were celebrating a crop of excellent results, with 42 per cent of students gaining five or more A* to C grades.

Headteacher Paul Green said: "Everyone is really pleased and proud of this year's results, particularly as 98 per cent of drama GCSE students got grades C or above, which puts us in a strong position to make a strong art college bid."

And Budmouth Technology College head, David Higham, said that pupils had achieved the best set of results yet with 48 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades.

He said: "Once again, the students and staff must be congratulated on these excellent results.

"We always set ourselves challenging targets and, for the fifth year running, they have been achieved."

Tim Balmforth, head of All Saints' School in Weymouth, said that the pupils had also scooped the school's best results so far.

He said: "60.1 per cent of the pupils got five grades from A* to C and I wish to be the first to congratulate pupils, staff and parents on a superb set of results."

And proud students at Weymouth College scooped a string of top marks in this year's results.

The overall A* to C grade pass rate was 61 per cent, which was above the national average, and Tim Meacham, head of science, mathematics and humanities, said: "These are the best results for the last four years and we are delighted with them."