Thousands of A-level students anxious to beat next year’s tuition fee rise were full of smiles, hugs and the occasional tear as they got their A-level grades today.

Results day started early for many who logged onto the Ucas website at midnight to see if they got their university place, but some were frustrated when it crashed.

Nick Guy, from Southborough High School, who achieved three Bs, said: “I was trying to get on the Ucas website but it kept crashing, but I got an email from Surrey University about my accommodation, so I guessed I got the grade.”

However, his friend Harry Eaton missed his grades to get into Southampton University and was waiting for confirmation he had a place at second-choice Reading to study maths.

Tarjmeet Kalra was Coombe Sixth Form’s star pupil, gaining A* grades in chemistry, economics, maths, and further maths, as well as As in biology and psychology for good measure.

He will study maths at Imperial College.

Amy Parker, also from Coombe, overcame dyslexia to achieve an A* in food technology and a B in English literature, securing a place studying children nursery at Kingston University.

She said being able to start using a laptop last year transformed her grades, from D in English last year to A this year.

She said: “I have done so many extra hours of revising. I have had to stay behind in classes and do extra work and it’s been hard.

“I have just phoned my mum and she is ecstatic.”

Natasha Bassett, from Kingston Grammar School, surpassed the three As she needed to study English at Oxford University, while Caroline Fairs’ will study English and education at Cambridge.

Miss Fairs said: “I was thinking of deferring for a year but thought I may as well go now because it’s quite a big increase in fees.”

Tolworth Girls’ School head girl Nikita Adams led from the front, achieving four A* grades, while Katherine Tynan will study architecture at Cambridge after her A*AA results.

Chessington Community College head boy Zac Laker also excelled, and will use his three A*s and three As to study physics at University College London.

Read the full round up online tomorrow.