Beal High School in Woodford Bridge Road, Redbridge, saw 99 per cent of A level students achieve at least three passes (A* to E).

Mark Smith, head of sixth form, said there had been no fall in the number of pupils applying to university, despite institutions being able to charge �9,000 in annual tuition fees from September.

In between offering students advice on their results, he said: “I think 90 per cent of year 13 applied which is consistent with the last five years.

“Students were more thoughtful about where they were applying and about whether they were living at home.

“We did have conversations about whether �27,000 is a good investment in your education.

“We advised them about the costs and that led to more considered conversations.”

Ebru Bal, 18, was happily celebrating with her sister Kubra, 18, and friends in the school’s sixth-form room.

She will study photography at London South Bank University after gaining two Bs in the subject and a B in a BTEC media course.

She said: “I’m really proud of that, I worked really hard.

“I’m really interested in photography.

“Some people think it’s a click of a button but it’s more in depth. I want to do it as a career.

“Thank God I’m not in clearing. For some people it’s quite hard to go through the process.”

Tarun Heer, 18, was checking on clearing places on computers in the sixth-form room.

He was predicted A, B, B but got B, C, C.

He said: “I’ve been trying all morning.”

Kubra has finished her AS year, also studying photography like her sister.

She said: “I want to do criminology, I’m interested in investigation, like CSI.”

“I can take your pictures,” said Ebru.