As A-Level results arrived on Thursday, talk turned to post-school plans, with students finally able to fixate on the future.

At JFS, Ella Taylor, 18, said she was looking forward to studying history at Oxford. "I didn't think I was going to make the offer," she revealed. "I've been seriously lacking sleep all summer."

Maytar Ronel said she was "completely surprised by my results". The 18-year-old, who achieved three A*s, said she had barricaded herself at home during study leave.

She is now looking forward to travelling across the US in her gap year and working on a ranch in Texas.

Hanina Pinnock revealed she was "so excited" to study photography at Ravensbourne College, London. The 18-year-old, who achieved an A* and two As, confessed it had been hard to motivate herself to study as she already held an unconditional offer.

Her parents, Sam and Richard Pinnock, said they were "ecstatic".

Emma Morris, 18, said she was "looking forward to meeting new people" at Durham university, where she will study natural sciences.

"It's been hideous waiting for results,"added classmate Charlie Hillman, who achieved three A*s and will study medicine at St Andrews. "This is a massive weight off my mind." v

The 18-year-old added: "My parents are taking me out tonight to celebrate. We were originally going to the pub, but when they saw my results, they decided to go to the Shard."

Meanwhile, two of JFS' broadest smiles belonged to mothers Angela Pelled and Susan Murray.

Ms Pelled revealed: "My son got into Leeds. He was shivering this morning.

"I bought a good luck card and a congratulatory card, but I wasn't sure if I would be returning the second card and getting my money back."

Ms Murray added: "My son hasn't slept for two months. I don't think I have either. I am very proud."

At Yavneh College, relief and excitement were just as palpable.

Abby Posner, 18, who gained one A* and two As, had not slept for a week. Her friend Georgina Morris, who attained two A*s and one A, said she had been having "so many nightmares". Both will be taking up places at Leeds in September.

Samuel Isaac, 18, said he was "very excited and very happy" with his A* and two As.

"I'm going to Cambridge in 2016 - I don't have to say 'hopefully' anymore." First, he will spend a year in a yeshiva.

Nathan Dean, 18, said he was "so relieved" after having had his "head in the books all year". Having gained three A*s, he secured his spot at Cambridge to study medicine.

Bailey Snow, 18, achieved an A and two Bs. He now plans to study accountancy in a training programme sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"I've always had an interest in finance, so this is the best of both worlds," he said. "I spend my first year at Nottingham, and then my second and third year working for PwC. Then, if I get a 2.1 or a first, they offer me a job."

But his immediate plans were far more pressing: "We're all going out clubbing tonight," he said.

Listen to students talk about A-Level results day