DORSET'S star pupils are celebrating success across the board.

Top Thomas Hardye School pupil Sarah-Jane Watkins yesterday found out she scooped 10 straight A*s in her GCSE exams.

Sarah-Jane scored the highest possible marks in French, Spanish, English literature and language, geography, maths, religious education and resistant materials, as well as three science exams.

The 16-year-old, who lives in Cross-ways near Dorchester, is celebrating with family and friends after making the grade in such spectacular style.

Overcome with emotion and excitement, Sarah-Jane told the Dorset Echo after she collected her results at the Dorchester school: "I am feeling too shaky to take this in properly, my first reaction when I opened the envelope was oh my God... I just could not believe it.

"I phoned my parents straight away to tell them the news, but they did not believe it at first either.

"I did try to work hard and wanted to do my best, but did not quite expect this - I think a bit of luck was involved as well.

"I am so relieved it is all over."

The teenager said she will return to the Thomas Hardye School sixth form next month, where she hopes to study French, Spanish, maths and biology, and hopes to pursue a career as a teacher one day.

A school spokesman said: "Sarah-Jane was joined by a number of others who gained large numbers of the top grade.

"As the school for all students in Dorchester, these results indicate its success is achieving the very best for every student in its care."

Moses Wootten, 16, of Owermoigne, was celebrating after gaining 12 GCSE passes - four A grades and eight Bs. He said: "I was very pleased to do so well.

"I had hoped to get good grades but did better than I had expected."

Now he hopes to become a lawyer.

Weymouth's All Saints School pupil Ewan Tarrant, 16, of Shrubbery Lane in Wyke Regis was amazed when he received a letter telling him he was one of the top five English literature students in the country.

Ewan said: "I couldn't believe it when I opened the envelope. I'm really pleased to have done so well, I've always enjoyed English.

"Unfortunately I'm not going to be studying it at A-level though because there are too many other subjects that I enjoy that bit more and hope to follow a career in.

"I didn't feel I could do justice to each subject if I tried to do five A-levels."

Ewan received four A*s, three As and three Bs and will go on to study physics, electronics, geography and maths at A-level.

Ewan beat more than 6,100 candidates to scoop the honour and headteacher Tim Balmforth said he was a credit to the school.

He added: "In 30 years experience I've never known anything like it at All Saints. Ewan is an exceptional student."

Sir John Colfox School pupil Rachel Fox was also delighted with her results after achieving 11 straight A*s.