STUDENTS in the Tavistock area are this week celebrating, following the publication of A-level exam results. The pass rate at Tavistock College has gone up yet again, with 96% of entries achieving an A-level grade. And the proporition of high grade passes has also increased ? an impressive 44% of entries achieving A or B grade passes. In addition to A-level results, six students achieved their BTEC Advanced National Diploma, which is equivalent to three A-levels. Geoff Orton, director of sixth form studies at the college, said: ?There were excellent achievements across the ability range and two thirds of the sixth form students achieved two or more A-level passes at grades A to C ? 39% of students attained two or more A or B grades among their results.? He congratulated all the students who had worked so hard and shown such commitment during the two years of their A-level studies. Mr Orton said particular mention had to be made of Alex Richings, who obtained a spectacular set of results ? five grade A passes in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and critical thinking. Alex also took advanced extension awards in three of his papers, achieving a distinction in each one. ?Alex has chosen to continue his studies at Southampton, where their astronomy degree course enables him to specialise from the first year in his particular enthusiasm, and will include a year studying abroad.? Alex said he was ?ecstatic? with his grades. ?I was convinced I wasn?t going to do that well,? he said. Matt Roach got two As and a B grade, while David Lawrie achieved an A, B and D. They are both going to Surrey to study advertising. ?It?s going to be so good ? we?re moving up there in just over a fortnight ? it?s unreal!? said Matt. Harrie Ashcroft was ?over the moon? with her two A and B grade A-level results. She intends to study medicine at Leicester, after taking a gap year. ?I?m going to Japan in 19 days? time, to work in a Red Cross hospital for six months,? said Harrie. ?I?m really looking forward to it, but I keep swinging from being excited to being really nervous.? Colin Eves, college principal, said: ?I am so pleased to see the results have further improved on the high standards achieved last year, particularly the increase in the proportion of high grades, and reflect the hard work of students and staff ? not forgetting the all-important support offered by parents.? Mr Eves congratulated all who had taken A and AS examinations this summer and said he was ?very pleased? to see such a high proportion attaining places at their first-choice universities. Mark Steed, headmaster at Kelly College, said staff and students were delighted at this year?s ?brilliant? results ? the fourth year in a row the college has succeeded in attaining a 100% pass rate, with 80% of students achieving grades A-C. He said: ?I am absolutely delighted for all our students ? they have worked tremendously hard and they have earned these results. Our outstanding team of teachers will be so pleased that all their hard work and commitment to the students has been rewarded ? a huge achievement for a school that does not have a selective intake.? Mr Steed said this year?s leavers have gained places on a wide variety of courses, including engineering, physics, economics, medicine, fashion studies, estate management and sports science. And Sarah Jenks, of Tavistock, is also celebrating. A student at Plymouth College, Sarah has followed up her 12A* GCSE grades with three A grades at A-level, to secure her place at Oxford University to read German and Russian. Sarah, whose ambition is to become an opera singer, will join her older sister Helen who is already at Oxford studying medicine.