TEENAGERS from the Tavistock area have joined thousands nationally in celebrating successful A-level results.

At Tavistock College, where 98% of students passed their exams, the pass rate for grades A* to C was 72%.

Helen Salmon, Tavistock College principal, said: 'I am pleased with this as this was the year group who did their GCSEs in the year the school went into special measures. 

'This is a strong performance for them. We are definitely on our way back now.'

Among the stand-out results from students who gained A*s and A grades were those of Nick Way, who will study for a creative writing and drama degree with London University at Kingston; Ciaran Stocker who is going to Exeter to study history; Ed Longden who will study law at Birmingham; Jack Glover who will study natural sciences at Durham and Jack Coiley, who is also going to Durham to study physics and astronomy.

Lara Hopkin has been accepted at University College, Oxford, to study politics, philosophy and economics after a particularly strong application and interview, despite obtaining a slightly lower grade in her law A-level.

Ed, who obained an A* and two As for English literature, history and Japanese, said his results were better than he had expected.

'I'm relieved more than anything — I never expected to get an A*, I thought I'd maybe got AAB — I'm so happy.

'I knew I'd got my place before I came down to the school, but coming in to get these results is a real bonus.'

Nick Way, with two A* grades and an A in RE, literature and drama, said he was 'almost embarrassed' at how well he had done.

'I don't like all the attention, which is odd when I'm going to study drama, but that's different because then, I am in character,' he said.

'This morning I had a text from the university, congratulating me, then I came down to school and all the teachers were saying well done — and I didn't even know what I'd got at that point!'

Out of 128 in the year group, 62 are going straight to university and another 20 will take a gap year. 

One of those is Bethany Neave who obtained an A and two C grades. She is doing voluntary work for the SKRUM charity in Swaziland, which uses sport as a medium to educate people about the HIV virus — then she plans to work through the winter in Austria as a chalet girl, before working in an American summer camp next year.

'I can't wait!' said Bethany.

However, it isn't all about university. Other students who have done well are choosing to go in different directions.  Jonathon Brindley, who achieved an A and two Bs  will go to drama school and Robert Hill who achieved an A*, B and a C will go to Newcastle to do an apprenticeship in film making and animation.

Mrs Salmon said: 'This is a very popular apprenticeship with many young people aiming for the few places on offer.

'We are proud of what our students have achieved and wish them well for the future.'