NIKITA Chander is celebrating today after hitting the jackpot with 11 A* GSCE successes - even though she is only 15.

Her achievement is all the more surprising because she took the exams a year earlier than other students after being advanced an academic year.

She also received one of the top marks for English literature in the country, and said: "I got all A stars. I can't explain how I'm feeling I'm just completely ecstatic. I'm shaking as I was not expecting to get all A stars.

"I got moved up a year in junior school and went from Year 4 to 6. I'm going to Totton College to study science and I want to study medicine at university."

She was among a flood of anxious and excited pupils who poured into the hall of Hounsdown Science College yesterday morning.

For many it was worth the agonising wait as both staff and pupils celebrated another record-breaking achievement this year with 100 per cent gaining five or more GCSEs.

A further 72 per cent achieved the gold standard of five or more A*-C passes with a quarter of all grades achieved at A or A* level.

Altogether 253 Year 11 students were due to pick up their exam results but some had an extra reason to celebrate after getting some of the highest grades in the country.

In total six candidates from the Totton school were within the top five marks for English literature in the UK and received special envelopes with their results from headteacher Di Nightingale.

Tom Hillman will be grinning from ear to ear after picking up one of the highest English and electronics results in the country.

There was further cause for celebration after a Year 8 pupil received a GCSE exam in French at the age of 13.

Di Nightingale said: "The atmosphere is electric here. The results continue to impress us and we are delighted for the students.

"It's a reflection of their hard work and the high quality of teaching that they receive.

"When I arrived here ten years ago only 43 per cent of pupils were getting five A-C grades and now it's 73 per cent. Our English teacher, Mrs Farmer, is delighted with the results."

The pupils who received top marks in English literature were Tom Hillman, Becky Young, Joe Rodd, Rebecca Young, Amy Livingstone and Susannah Knights.