The anxiety he was feeling disappeared the minute Denholm Spurr opened his results envelope.

The former Woodcote High School student, who wrote a column in last week's Croydon Guardian about the wait for his results, passed his GCSEs with flying colours gaining nine As and a B.

The 16-year-old, from Coulsdon, said: "I'm really pleased, I didn't expect to do so well. I was quite surprised to get so many As, especially the A for RE."

He added: "I was very nervous for the whole evening before, it really hit me about 11pm."

Denholm has yet to decide which college to study at in September.