THERE were beaming smiles aplenty at Tavistock College last week when students poured through the school gates to collect their eagerly-awaited A-level results.
The overall pass rate at the college was 95.2%? many subjects had a 100% success rate, with some students doing outstandingly well.
The percentage of A to C grades was 67.6% ? 5.5% up on last year.
John Simes, college principal, said: ?We are absolutely thrilled to bits ? these results are quite outstanding. They are a record for the college and put us at the cutting edge of post-16 education in Devon.?
Mr Simes rejected the belief that A-levels were getting easier, although he welcomed the idea of an additional ?thesis? piece of work and conceded the current exam system was ?ripe for reform?.
He said: ?I must pay tribute to the excellent calibre of teaching and the whole sixth form team, led by Geoff Orton ? the whole system of tutoring and study support here is quite exceptional.?
Peter Squire, chairman of governors, said: ?We?re very pleased and reassured by these results ? they are a tribute to the hard work of the students and staff. Overall I came away from school this morning feeling very confident.?
Of the 120 students who took A-levels, ten did particularly well and notched up at least three grade As.
They were Emily Blackmore, Ella Curnow, Oliver Helm, Dan Hilton, Ben Houghton, Katie Langton, Carolie Medland, Peter Richardson, Elanor Samwell and Jo Solman.
And in the vocational exams, there was an exceptional 100% pass rate in the BTEC national early years diploma.
There were broad grins from Ben Houghton, who had better results in his three science and maths exams than he had expected. He totted up a wonderful set of four straight As.
?I?m working for a year before going to uni, but I might be thinking again now,? he said.
A delighted Briony Harvey got the grades she needed to go to study accountancy and management.
?First I?m going to Lebanon for six months, to teach in a school, then I?m going to university in Cardiff,? she said.
A ?B? in photography plus her other results meant Emily Wright had something to smile about ? she leaves for Bournemouth Arts Institute next week, to begin a foundation arts course.
And Oliver Richings? results means he will be able to travel to East Anglia, where he intends to begin an environmental science degree at Norwich University.
Most students at Callington Community College were also celebrating last week, as the school notched up a 95% A-level pass rate.
The vast majority of students achieved the grades they needed to continue in higher education.
Steve Kenning, headteacher, said: ?We are very pleased the students have generally achieved the grades they need to move on.
?We are also pleased that our AS level results are now beginning to reflect our expectations.?