The rollercoaster of emotions was in full effect as students in mid-Norfolk picked up their A-level results.

%image(15044012, type="article-full", alt="Madeleine Mason, 19, from Wells celebrating her results with her mother. Picture: Archant")

Following an anxious summer of nerves and nail-biting, the wait was finally over for hundreds of hard-working teenagers across the area.

Some chose to take their all-important envelopes home and share their big moment with parents; others couldn't wait any longer, eager to tear them open and compare notes with friends.

%image(15044013, type="article-full", alt="Laurence Jones, from Dereham, and Lily Tye, from Scarning, picked up their A-level results at Dereham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")

Dereham Sixth Form College notched 74pc A* to C grades, down from 81pc last year, but co-director Jonathan Atkin was keen to salute the consistent level of performance.

"This year's results are a credit to the hard-working students and supportive parents," said Mr Atkin. "We're fortunate to have such well-qualified and dedicated teachers.

%image(15044014, type="article-full", alt="Students at Reepham High School and College celebrate their A-Level results. Picture: Reepham High School and College")

"Our record in helping students access the best universities and apprenticeships continues, and we'd like to thank all students, parents, carers and staff for another wonderful year of support."

Barnaby Milton, who came away with A*, A* and Distinction*, added: "This is a really nice surprise. I was really worried throughout the exam period but things worked out in the end.

%image(15044015, type="article-full", alt="Co-directors Jonathan Atkin and Dave Brook were "delighted" were this year's A-level results at Dereham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")

"I received a lot of support when I needed it and it's been nice to have teachers with different ways of keeping me engaged."

Fakenham Sixth Form fared marginally better than last year, with students achieving 73pc A* to C and an overall pass rate of 100pc.

%image(15044016, type="article-full", alt="Lucy Burton, from North Elmham, picked up her A-level results at Dereham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")

Student Madeline Mason will head to Nottingham Trent University in September, with dreams of crossing the Atlantic and making a difference in the US prison system.

"I want to work in America as an officer at a juvenile detention centre for women, something I find really interesting," said Miss Mason, from Wells.

"I've seen all the documentaries on Netflix and find them really interesting, but it annoys me seeing the conditions and that's why I have to get into this line of work."

Despite a performance drop of 15pc at Reepham College (91pc down to 76pc A* to C), director Helen McGuinness lauded the "tremendous" set of results.

%image(15044017, type="article-full", alt="Students celebrating their A-Level Results at Fakenham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")

"This is a reflection of the students' exceptional hard work and the excellent level of support provided by staff," she said. "Our students start the exciting next stage of their lives as capable, mature and well-rounded young people."

%image(15044018, type="article-full", alt="Barnaby Milton, from Shipdham, picked up his A-level results at Dereham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")

%image(15044019, type="article-full", alt="Students at Reepham High School and College celebrate their A-Level results. Picture: Reepham High School and College")

%image(15044020, type="article-full", alt="Students pick up their A-level results at Dereham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")

%image(15044021, type="article-full", alt="Students at Reepham High School and College celebrate their A-Level results. Picture: Reepham High School and College")

%image(15044022, type="article-full", alt="Students pick up their A-level results at Dereham Sixth Form. Picture: Archant")