AFTER all the weeks of nervous anticipation the big day finally arrived last Thursday, as students at Okehampton College opened their brown envelopes and learned their A level results. For many of the students at the college there was a great deal to celebrate as successful grades meant their passport into higher education and university courses. Figures showed that the college received a 97 per cent pass rate at A level, up from 96.2 in 2006 and 67 per cent pass rate at grades A to C ? well up on last year?s 62 per cent. Among the successes was Jan Jachnik, who achieved the equivalent of five A levels in mathematics, further maths, chemistry and physics ? all at grade A. Joanna Tope is now guaranteed a place to read history at Cambridge following her four grade As at history, English language, economics and maths. There were also three grade As for Lee Bradfield and Hannah Steptoe, while a number of students achieved two As and a B. As students gathered to share their results with their friends and family on Thursday most were pleased with their efforts. Matt Twinberrow, aged 18, from Lewdown was more than happy with his C in maths, C in law and B in physics ? it means that he can now take up his conditional place to study civil engineering at the University of Portsmouth. He told the Times: ?I am very pleased. I was pretty confident as they are much as I expected.? Student Charlotte Cassels from North Tawton has now secured a place at the University of Plymouth to study maths and finance after securing an A for maths, B for IT and a C economics. Another success was Eddy Chatterton, who gained three A levels ? a C in information technology, C in physics and D in electronics. He is hoping for a career in the RAF possibly as a pilot. Eddy, 18, from Okehampton, said: ?I hoped for slightly higher grades but overall I am pleased.? Daryll Chapman, the college principal, was delighted with the results achieved by his 115 A level students, 70 of whom are applying for higher education at university level. He said: ?A2 (A level) results have been very pleasing with some outstanding performances. We are definitely up on last year. We are not sure how many are going onto university as yet but we have had more applications for higher education, something we have been trying to promote. ?What we have done as a school is to try to encourage young people to take higher education. Youngsters who in the past academically would not go onto continue their education have had the opportunity to do so, which is very pleasing.? He praised both his students and staff for all their work to achieve such a high standard of results. ?The strength of the college is the diverse range of A level subjects available for our students together with vocational programmes which also attract young people into further education,? he said. Mr Chapman added: The excellent results of the college at A to C grade at A level is very important and reflects how hard the students have worked and taken their studies seriously.? His comments were reinforced by John Trenerry, the director of sixth form. Mr Trenerry also added that there would be help for those students who did not do so well. He said: ?The vast majority of students did well and got what they wanted, but for those who didn?t college staff and the Connexions service, who offer advice with careers and education, are there to help. I urge those people not to make snap decisions about their future.? Bob Barnes, headmaster of Shebbear College, said he was delighted with this year?s A Level results and was pleased with the 97% pass rate, of which 53% represents the top Aand B grades. Particular noteworthy were the achievements of head boy, Josef Schmalfuss, and head girl Claire Ashworth, who between them achieved 9 straight A grades at A level and 2 A grades at AS Level. Josef will be reading Economics at Cambridge University and Claire will be reading Chemistry at Imperial College, London. Mr Barnes said: ?All at Shebbear College believe this summer?s excellent results reflect the pupils? tremendous commitment to hard work and the uncompromising resolve of its pupils.?
