THERE were plenty of smiles and hugs as students received their A-level results at one of North Staffordshire's biggest sixth form centres.

More than 600 teenagers gained A-levels at Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College this summer and over 180 completed a range of vocational qualifications.

The overall pass rate topped 96 per cent, with two thirds of the grades achieved at A to C.

Star students at Fenton include Abigail Taylor, who scored one of the top five results in the country in her archeology A-level.

The 18-year-old, of Meriden Road, Newcastle, picked up four A grades overall in geology, archeology, classics and environmental science.

Now she will be taking a degree in geology and archeology at Birmingham University.

Abigail said: "I didn't think I would do so well. I'm not sure what I want to do for a career, but I want it to combine geology and archeology, so I'm studying both."

Another straight-A student, 18-year-old Lujain Siraj, of Furnace Road, Longton, is planning a gap year, before starting a degree in either pharmacy or medicine.

She gained her top A-level grades in biology, chemistry and maths A-levels.

Lujain said: "I worked really hard. The secret is revising from early on.

"I'm going to take a year out and work, before starting my studies again."

Tuseet Sardar, of Fenton, says he has high hopes of becoming a lawyer after achieving a B in business studies and Cs in law and media studies. He will be moving on to Staffordshire University.

The 19-year-old said: "I put in a lot of work and even had mentoring sessions to help me. Now it's paid off."

Gareth Ryder, of Chell, says his grades will help him realise his ambition to be a radio presenter.

The 18-year-old got a C in English language, a B in IT and a B in media studies. He will be studying film, TV and radio at Staffordshire University.

He said: "I was nervous about picking up my results. But I'm really excited about the future now."

Louise Calvert, of Cresswell, is set to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in quantity surveying. She will be studying the subject at Reading University.

The 18-year-old said: "After I did work experience at my dad's company, I decided that was what I wanted to do. I had no social life while I was revising for A-levels, but it was worth it. Now I'm so happy."

Louise achieved an A and a B in a double ICT A-level, and an E in geology.