The hard work of students at Teignbridge secondary schools paid off when many received top A level and AS results last week.

Ashburton's South Dartmoor Community College had 100 per cent pass rates in the Year 13 A*/E grades.

The college's post 16 results place its achievements consistently above the national average.

The Year 13 BTEC results showed an 80 per cent pass rate, Childcare CACHE 100 per cent, and NVQ 100 per cent. Top achieving students included Jamie Parkinson, Declan Turner, Nathanya Platt, Howard Stamp, Bruce Cracknell-Whiting, Christina Tress, David Stewart-Watson, Tom Harrison, Victoria Harle, Jenny Applegarth, Georgia Hornsby and Callum Taylor.

Many of these students will soon be pursuing their career ambitions at university, and Jamie is taking up a place at Oxford.

Coombeshead Academy, Neweton Abbot, celebrated a 99 per cent pass rate.

'The overwhelming majority of students also have achieved or surpassed their target grade, enabling them to confirm their places at university, further education or training,' said Brian Whiffen, assistant headteacher.

Star pupils include Gemma Brailey, Sam Downton, Mosa Bluejay, Andy Cluer, Sarah Coombes, Hannah Miller, Rose Morris, Ami Walsh, Tamsin Roberts, Amy Parnell, Bryony Taylor, Jenny Williams and Chloe Locke.

There were celebrations all round at South Devon College, Paignton, with a 99.4 per cent pass rate.

In total, 71 per cent of students achieved grades A*-C; with a 100 per cent pass rate also achieved in many subjects.

Felicity Guest, 18, from Bovey Tracey, went to the college from Stover School and successfully achieved As in maths and computing, and Bs in physics and chemistry.

'I was very happy when I opened my results and very relieved at the same time that all the hard work was worth it,' said Felicity.

'I'm really proud to be going onto study at Exeter University.'

Students at Stover School also achieved great grades.

'We are delighted with our A level results. They reflect another very successful year at Stover and are testimony to the tremendous hard work of our pupils and outstanding teaching enabling all pupils to achieve their full potential,' said Sue Bradley, principal.

Bo Yun Jung was thrilled to secured a place at Cambridge University to study architecture. Bo achieved four A levels – mathematics at grade A*, art and design at grade A*, further mathematics at grade A and physics at grade A.

Newton Abbot College celebrated a 100 per cent pass rate for the first time in its history.

First year A level student Natalie Smith achieved top grades, with an A in biology, A in chemistry, A in French and a B in physics.

'Now I've have my AS levels, I want to go onto Oxford University reading medicine after my second year at A level.

'I'm predicted straight A grades for this coming year, which will mean a lot of hard work.'

Teign School, Kingsteignton, had a 97 per cent pass rate.

Student James Palmer was chuffed with his AS grades.

'I didn't get nervous about getting my results as I'd put the effort in,' he said.

'I got 4 A grades in chemistry, biology, maths and georgaphy and when I complete my A levels I want to study medicine.

'I celebrated by going to a party at a friends.'