IT WAS a big day at Okehampton College last Thursday as students arrived to collect their GCSE results — the first cohort under a new grading system.

All 228 students in the year took at least nine GCSES and some of them ten.

They were joining 16 year olds across the country as guinea pigs for changes aimed at making the benchmark in education more challenging.

It was an anxious morning for teachers and youngsters alike, but as the brown envelopes were torn open, there seemed to be more smiles than disappointed faces.

Phoebe Muir from Chagford had achieved six 9s, three 8s and a 7. She is off to study chemistry, history and economics A-levels at Exeter College, where she’ll be juggling studies with competing as a rower.

Annie Strawbridge, from Hatherleigh, was celebrating five 9s, four 7s and a 5. She’s staying on at Okehampton College to study biology, geography and PE A-levels.

Also doing exceptionally well were Samantha Gallagher, who obtained seven 9s, two 8s, and a 7 and Ben Bowles who got six 9s and four 8s.

Holly Adams was so surprised with her results that she burst into tears. ‘I’m surprised, and really pleased!’ she said. She said she was pleased with all her grades ‘especially maths’.

Ethan Woodhouse said he’d done much better than he’d expected too, ‘particularly in geography and maths’.

College principal Derrick Brett said: ‘GCSE grading this year has changed from A* to G to grades 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest grade. As always, the students at Okehampton have adapted magnificently to the change and can be very proud of their achievements. Overall, the students have obtained grades that are better than expected and the highest achieving students managed to secure 9s and 8s across the board.

‘Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and success in this changing educational environment. We wish them every success for the future, whether they are staying on at the college or moving on to pastures new.’