Students at high schools across Luton were jumping for joy when they received their GSCE results today

Cardinal Newman RC School's Maria Ricchetti was thrilled with her two As, four Bs and two Cs.

The 16-year-old, of Church Road, Silsoe, screamed when she saw her grades.

And at Icknield High, friends Claire Thompson and Tom Ravenhall, of Broadacres, were celebrating almost matching sets of top grades.

Claire, of Ringwood Road, achieved five A*s, four As and a B, and Tom, of found six A*s, four As and a B in his envelope.

The pair will now study the International Baccaloreate at Luton Sixth Form College.

At Denbigh High School, Aashima Saibudeen was ecstatic with her 13 and a half A*s and three and a half A grades.

Aashima, of Birdsfoot Lane, is now one step closer to her dream of becoming a doctor, and will go on to Luton Sixth Form College to study five A-levels.

Provisional pass rates showed that Denbigh achieved a similar A* to C pass rate to last year, of about 69 per cent.

Across town at Ashcroft High School it was celebrations all round as students recorded the school's highest ever five plus A* to C grade score of 50 per cent.

High achievers Rachel Considine, Karan Kumar and Karl Thomas all had a clean sweep of 11 or more A and A* grades.

For a fuller report on GCSE success and pictures from Luton high schools, see next week's Luton News - on sale on Wednesday.