THE smiles outweighed the tears when A-level students across the Sevenoaks area collected their results on Thursday.

While national bulletins told of a shortage of university places, the devastation didn't reach the town's schools where 18-year-olds were happily speaking of their plans for the future.

The final visits of the young adults to their old schools was particularly poignant for pupils at Wildernesse and Bradbourne, which are about to close and merge into the new Knole Academy from September 1.

The mood at the Wildernesse was buoyant after 94 per cent of students achieved A-level passes.

Leaver Jack Sage, 18, became the first student to achieve an A* grade, and spoke of his relief at securing a place at the University of Kent after losing out at Southampton.

He said: "I got an A* in business studies, D in law and B in history. The D is what killed me going to Southampton, but overall it's pretty good."

Year 13 pupil David Sullivan was accepted to Southampton Solent University to study popular music journalism. He said: "When I opened the envelope it was such a relief."

Thanks to his C passes in finance and business, Alec Miles, 18, will train as a quantity surveyor from September, and will spend Fridays studying at the University of Greenwich.

The Bradbourne School put in a strong performance with a 96 per cent pass rate of grades A* to E, 40 per cent of which were A* to B.

Acting head Paul Derrick said: "We are extremely pleased to have improved our results as this is the last year of the school and it's good to finish on a real high."

Top student Sophie Cooper collected her results after passing her driving test the day before.

Her success continued when she achieved three As in English, art and graphics, securing her place to study English and philosophy at the University of East Anglia.

She said: "I haven't slept for a week, now I'm really looking forward to studying at university."

Lianne Kew, 18, hopes to be a medical assistant in the Royal Navy after achieving a C in law, B in business and E in English, while fellow leaver Bethany Burgess is off to Liverpool Hope University to study history, theology and religious studies.

At Walthamstow Hall, students were for the first time celebrating successes in the new Cambridge Pre-U exams, as well as A-level results.

The new test enables bright students to study their chosen subject in greater depth.

Lorna Campbell, who will study medicine at University College London, achieved the very highest Cambridge Pre-U grade, with A or A* equivalent grades in biology, chemistry, history and French.

Speaking of the school's success, head teacher Jill Milner said: "I am delighted that these fantastic Pre-U results, together with the high percentage of the new A* grade achieved at A level, reflect what we have always known, that our students have relished the opportunity to shine and access higher grades than the traditional A level could offer."

Sevenoaks School have already celebrated their International Baccalaureate results with all 214 students passing the diploma.

Undermaster Mike Bolton said: "It has been a really successful year and we are delighted with our students' performance.

"They have worked very hard to achieve some outstanding results."

Eight students gained the maximum 45 points, and 16 dropped only one mark.

The average score was 39.3 out of 45, a record for the school.