Matty Watson has celebrated coming of age by picking up better than expected exam results -and has a bright future ahead of him as he starts an apprenticeship next month.

Matty turned 18 yesterday. He joined fellow sixth formers at Caldew School, Dalston, which had opened up at 8am for students.

Matty - among thousands of Cumbrians who learned their grades yesterday - was pleased to discover he'd achieved a B grade in media studies, C in business, and a merit in his science Btec.

"In some ways they didn't really matter as much they do for some of my friends who need grades to get into university," said Matty.

"I start an industrial engineering apprenticeship at Pirelli next month but I've still had to work for these good grades these last two years.

"I wasn't expecting these results in my life so I couldn't be happier; on my birthday too."

Others celebrating included Tilly Harding, of Orton Grange.

Tilly, 18, has the equivalent of three Bs and is heading to Manchester to study children's nursing.

"The exams were tough, particularly biology," she said. "They're the new ones where everything depends on the exam at the end of the two years.

"I just want to thank our head of year 13 Jo Tate. She took me for health and social care and she has worked with all of us so much. We all call her 'mum' in school because she really looks after us."

Mrs Tate, who was expecting over 100 students to pick up results yesterday (THURS), said: "I'm so pleased for them all. They have all worked incredibly hard and they've been a pleasure to teach.

"With the changes to exams we've done a lot of work with them about memory retention and lots of practice papers. These new exams are very different and so much harder."

Friends India Ross, of Burgh by Sands; Emily WIlkinson, of Grinsdale; and Emma Wright, of Sandsfield Park in Carlisle celebrated four A*s and five As between them - all of the grades in science subjects. Each one has secured a place at university.

And Anna McDonald, 18, of Dalston, is heading to Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University to read biochemistry after achieving two A*s and an A in biology, chemistry and physics respectively.

There were similar scenes at other schools.

Pupils at Austin Friars in Carlisle recorded an overall pass rate of 97 per cent with over 56 per cent of the grades being A*, A or B.

Headmaster Matt Harris said: "It is particularly pleasing given that well over half of our pupils took one or more STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects at A-Level this year."

Oliver Adamson gained three As and will be taking economics and finance at Newcastle. Sarah Hodgson's three A*s and A grade have secured her a place to read maths at Newcastle while Samantha Huang, who gained three A grades, intends to head to UCL in London.

Cameron McGauchie will be reading Scottish Law at Glasgow after achieving two A*s and an A and Phoebe Zue secured a place to read maths in Edinburgh after clinching three As.

Robert Fryer-Spedding, who picked up results at Keswick School yesterday, is heading to St Andrew's in Scotland to study medicine.

He said: "It is an odd feeling to have a dream come true. Keswick School taught me to over-estimate my abilities and then gave me the tools to achieve them. All I can say is thank you.”

Chris McAree, headteacher of William Howard School in Brampton, said: "Whether it is the students that have achieved straight A*s or those who have worked equally hard to reach the goals they set themselves we congratulate them all on their achievements.

"The new reformed A Levels are a step up in difficulty and it is really pleasing to see the students rising to the increase in challenge."

At Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton, successes included Joe Whitehead who achieved three A*s and two As and will go to Durham University to read biological sciences. Sophie Connolly achieved two A*s and two As and is going on to read psychology at Newcastle University.

In Penrith there were celebrations at Ullswater Community College and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

Sixteen students at Ullswater Community College achieved A* and A grades in two or more of their subjects - Maeve Austin, Erin Docherty, Rebecca Frost, Stephanie Graham, Emily Ivinson, Henry Jennings, Megan Kendal, Jessica Louis, Fabienne Longin, Callum MacDonald, Jack Mavin, Laura Manson, Katy Snaith, Amber Stockdale, Ellena Tallentire and Ellen Young.

Headteacher Nick Ellery said: "This is the culmination of the tremendous commitment and hard work from the students and teachers over the last two years during a period of course and examination reform.

"We are so proud of our students, who have achieved such fantastic results."

At neighbouring QEGS head boy and head girl Toby Collard and Sophie Thomas achieved a string of A grades as did Praharsh Babu, Thomas Ford, Harry Gray, Camilla McKnespiey, Thomas Ford and Sophie Bauer.

Headteacher Paul Buckland, at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, said: "The tremendous results are testament to the incredible hard work of our students and that of the inspirational and dedicated staff.

"The results underline their seven year commitment to study and come in spite of significant changes to A-level courses affecting all schools."

Andrew Lund, head of Appleby Grammar School, said all students who applied for university achieved the grades they needed to gain a place.

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School headteacher Gary Hartley highlighted the success of Megan Allen, who is going to Bristol University to study veterinary science after achieving two A*s and an A.