ROUND the clock study sessions paid off for a hard-working Gourock school pupil who achieved straight As in her exams.

Jessica Smith, a fourth year pupil at St Columba’s High School, faced an anxious wait for her National 5 results which landed on her doorstep just before noon yesterday.

But it was well worth the wait for the 16-year-old who secured As in English, maths, history, chemistry, biology and music.

Jessica told the Tele: “I feel so happy and so relieved.

“I didn’t expect it at all.

“Before my exams I spent whole days upstairs, not even coming down for lunch.

“I studied round the clock.

“My teachers were very supportive and they made it clear that it doesn’t matter if you don’t get all As, as long as you’re happy with your work.”

Jessica, who will go into fifth year next week, says she’s still unsure what she wants to do when she’s older but is considering a career on stage.

She said: “I’m thinking about doing acting as it’s something I’ve been doing since I was about four.

“I’m in the Beacon Youth Theatre and the Beacon Young Company, which I really enjoy.”

Jessica will now return to school to sit Highers in English, maths, chemistry, biology and music.

Her dad John, mum Anne Marie and big sister Rebecca, 21, are proud of her achievements.

John said: “She put a lot of work in.”

Rebecca added: “She was up late the night before worried so it’s nice to know that her worries were for nothing.”