THERE were smiles, hugs and a few tears – of a good kind – as A-level results day dawned at Okehampton College last Thursday.

Students showed up to collect their brown envelopes from 9am.

One of the first was Rebecca Harrison of Hatherleigh, who promptly broke down in tears. She’s done better than expected, with an A*, A and B, and is off to study maths at Leeds.

‘I’m just really happy,’ she said, as she hugged proud parents Sadie and Richard. ‘I’ve done better than I thought I would. I just can’t believe it.’

Lewis Johns, who lives near Sampford Courtenay was also smiling. He’d opened his envelope to read that he’d got 3 A*s, and will be off to Warwick University to study economics and maths.

‘I was predicted A* and two As so it was a surprise to get better than that,’ he said. ‘It shows that at Okehampton College you can exceed expectations. I have nothing but positive things to say about it here, the teaching is fantastic.’

Also celebrating three A*s was Sol Rowe-Welch, who is off to study music at Oxford University. He started studying for his A-levels at Exeter College but decided to return to Okehampton College early on. ‘I’m very glad I came back here because it is a very welcoming place,’ he said.

Caleb Bourne of Okehampton got an A* and two A grades. He is off to Southampton University. ‘I’m very happy but a little surprised with them,’ he said. ‘The hard work has paid off.’

Another top student was Alice Newton who got one A* and two grade As, and will be studying medicine at Bristol.

A further five students got three grade As each: Sadie Ash, Joel Baldwin, Yovella Ball, Nyassa De Kock Jewell and Beth Pyle. Katie Jecks is off to Cardiff University after securing one A*, one A and one B.

Jordan Rolfe was another surprised but happy customer, with an AAB in biology, physics and chemistry. ‘I didn’t expect to get that,’ he said. ‘Physics is really hard!’

College principal Derrick Brett said students had ‘in general exceeded expectations’ across the board. There was a 100% pass rate, with well over half of the A-level grades achieved being B and above and 85% grade C and above.

‘In a dramatically changing educational world, we are delighted that the Okehampton College Year 13 students have, again, succeeded in achieving such excellent grades,’ he said.

‘Across the cohort, all the students should be pleased. They are now leaving us to take on a diverse range of courses at universities across the United Kingdom.

‘We wish each one every success for the future, whether they go on from here to university or the world of work.

‘They have been an exceptional year group.’