THERE was ice-cream, balloons, hugs and tears as students celebrated the best A-level results their school has ever seen.

Almost all of the 87 students at Hertswood Academy, in Thrift Farm Lane, Borehamwood, hoping to go to university got in to their first choice.

Lana Al-Nusair had been planning on going to UCL to study biomedical engineering, but did so well that she now plans to re-apply for a place at Oxbridge or Queen Mary University.

She achieved four A* grades in maths, physics, biology and chemistry – raising the bar from last year’s student record of three A* grades.

She said: “I really didn’t expect the A* in maths – I thought I messed up the last question. But thank god for grade boundaries.”

Lana admits she had a slump during the physics course, and credits her teacher, Dr Roberta Donato, for getting her through.

She said: “She’s not just a teacher, she’s my motivation. She’s one the reasons I got my grades.”

Her emotional father, Hussam Al-Nusair said: “We are so proud of our oldest daughter.

“She’s been saying she wanted to be a doctor since she was in year three. She always wanted to be a paediatric surgeon.

“I always knew she would be very successful all her life.”

Tonight, Dr Donato will treat her physics class to home-made pizza to celebrate their success.

This year’s highest results ever include 60 per cent of students with A* to B grades, 84 per cent with A* to C grades and the best average point score at the school to date.

Hertswood are also sending more students to Russell Group universities than ever before.

These include Conor Batley and David Nicholls who will both study maths at Warwick University, Jessica Sartori who will study history at the University of East Anglia, and Adam Dolan who will study English literature and politics at Surrey University.

One student breaking the mould is Reece Marshall, who achieved full-marks in his practical dance exam, giving him more options for vocational training next year.

He said: “I was at school most days rehearsing until 6 or 7 o’clock. Most days I was kicked out by the caretaker. It was worth it in the end.”

Dance teacher Helen Jenner added: “I wouldn’t mind being his mum, if I’m honest, given how well he did in dance.”

Carey McFerran, head of sixth form, said the students have mainly opted for redbrick UK universities over international study or apprenticeships.

She said the results were a relief as she had worried they would not be able to top last year's success.

But an unsurprised Mr Gillet said: “We just keep getting better and better.”

Head Teacher Peter Gillett explained that the continual improvement at the school, where results have risen for three years running, is down to the students’ work ethic, alongside strong staff support.

He said: “The students are really striving for higher. There are no shortcuts to success.”

Meanwhile, students at Yavneh College in Borehamwood were also celebrating.

After a tense few months, pupils were delighted with their grades – which saw 17 per cent of them receive A*s.

A total of 51 per cent achieved A* to A grades, 84 per cent achieved A* to B and 94 per cent were awarded A* to C.

Headteacher, Spencer Lewis said, ‘I am delighted with these results, 84 per cent of grades at A*, A or B and 51% at A* or A is an amazing achievement and everyone can be extremely proud.

“This is a result of a lot of hard work on the part of the pupils and expert, dedicated teaching on the part of our very high calibre staff.”