When Manchester King David head girl Dayna Rosenthal learned that she had scored four As at A-level, her delight was tempered as she awaited news of the academic future of another member of her household - her mother Suzy.

For after being made redundant, Mrs Rosenthal had applied to become a mature student and completed a number of course-work assignments. But it was only on results day that she found out she had been accepted for a social work course at Salford University and will start there next term.

"Dayna was up at seven and found out online, but I couldn't get on to the Ucas website because it was blocked," Mrs Rosenthal said. "It was very nerve-wracking. I was desperate to get a place."

After sharing the application anxiety, mother and daughter are now looking forward to continuing supporting each other through their studies. "We did all the work together - when she was revising, I was asking for help with my personal statement," Mrs Rosenthal said. "We're both overjoyed."

Dayna - who will be studying dentistry at Liverpool University - is "really happy" for her mother.

I've joked that we'll now have so much in common

"I've been joking that we'll now have so much in common. We'll both be making university friends, joining societies.

"It's just as exciting for her as for me."