IT was smiles all round at Okehampton College last Thursday as sixth form students collected their A-level results.

Students from Years 12 and 13 picked up their AS and A-level results and many of them had good reason to celebrate.

College vice-principal Derrick Brett confirmed that the A-level results were consistent with previous years, with a 96% pass rate, while the pass rate in AS levels improved by 10%.

Mr Brett said: 'We are very pleased with the results and we hope that all the students are pleased with what they have achieved after all their hard work.

'We would like to wish them every success for the future and good luck in whatever direction their lives take them now.'

The most notable successes were achieved by Emily Winter, who was awarded four A grades at A-level, as well as Kat Malseed, Jessica Squires and Stacey Balsdon, who each scooped three A grades at A-level.

Stacey is now heading up country to read Geography at Loughborough University.

She said: 'I'm ecstatic but I worked really, really, really hard. We've got pink champagne in the car so we're going to celebrate now.'

Kat Malseed, who achieved her A grades in Maths, Chemistry and Biology, was also delighted with her results and is now heading to Oxford University where she will read Human Sciences.

Her mother, Christine Malseed, was over the moon with her daughter's achievement: 'I'm very, very proud and really pleased. It's a testament to the commitment of the staff and pupils — they all make a great team.'

Another success story was that of Gemma Hitchcock, who repeated Year 13 in order to better her results and ended up with more than double the UCAS points she needed to win a place at City College Plymouth to study complementary health.

Gemma said: 'I'm very, very pleased. I wasn't sure if I'd get my grades but I ended up with double the UCAS points I needed.

'I've spent three years persevering and I'm so glad I've finally achieved what I was aiming for — it makes all the hard work so worthwhile.'

The notable successes in AS levels went to Paul Russell, Isobel Moore and Polly Collins who all went home with four A grades.

On a national level, both the overall pass rate for A-levels and the number of students receiving A grades all increased from last year and with a record 827,737 A-level entries there are more students staying in further education than ever before.