ALL across Teignbridge students are collecting their A Level results.

But unlike other years, these results have been estimated after exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The exam watchdog has already announced a two per cent rise in A* and A grades this year at A Level – close to record levels.

Here’s how our students got on...

UPDATE COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY Jackie Druiff, director of sixth form of Coombeshead Academy reports: ‘Congratulations to Coombeshead Sixth From students who have shown that hard work and determination have led to a fantastic set of results at A level and Level 3 BTEC.  We are especially proud of the resilience and fortitude they have demonstrated during this unprecedented time. ‘Strong results in the challenging facilitating subjects including English, Mathematics and History will enable our students to progress to the next stage of their education with confidence and secure in the knowledge that they can achieve their goals. ‘We are very pleased that many of our students have secured places to study a variety of degree courses including Psychology, Midwifery and Mathematics at Cardiff, Bournemouth and Durham Universities.‘BTEC candidates’ results were also a standout achievement this year, building on the success of previous years’ results.‘As well as congratulating the students we would, as always, like to acknowledge the help and support given by parents and carers and the dedicated, supportive and professional teaching staff.’ UPDATETEIGN SCHOOL Teign School reports: We are once again celebrating the achievements of our students. Our Year 13 have performed very well and they must all be congratulated on their well-deserved outcomes. Their hard work and endeavours have been rewarded with some excellent results. Although this has been a year like no other and the exams system disrupted in a way that we have not previously known, we must recognise the efforts that our students, staff and families have put into their education. We have some notable results from many of our students who have been offered places to continue their studies including:University of Cambridge - Natural SciencesUniversity of Birmingham - Biomedical ScienceUniversity of Bristol - HistoryUniversity of Plymouth  - SociologyUniversity of Bristol - PhysicsSwansea University - LawPlymouth Marjon University - Primary Education with QTS Headteacher, Suzannah Wharf, commented: ‘When the government announced this spring that the exams for 2020 had been cancelled we have worked very hard to ensure that Teign’s assessment of the grades for each individual student were fairly and robustly determined for each and every subject. We are very proud of the incredibly mature and resilient way our students have managed the challenges they have faced over the last few months and would like to commend their efforts. She added: 'It is very hard to receive grades in the manner they have and we will continue to support them over the next few days and months as they take the next steps into their adult lives. We are strongly committed to all our students being set up to be able to pursue their future dreams and careers when they leave school. We would like to congratulate all of the students for their achievements and look forward to watching each and every unique journey that they are undertaking as it unfolds. Every child has the right to an education and at Teign, within Education South West, we will continue to ensure that all children receive the very best education possible as we continue to face extraordinary challenges locally, nationally and globally. Our children deserve the very best opportunities that we can offer.’ UPDATENEWTON ABBOT COLLEGE REPORTSNewton Abbot College’s Principal, Paul Cornish, has paid tribute to his Sixth Form students and staff, as they celebrate a wonderful set of results for this year’s Level 3 (A Level) qualifications. “The students have done so well and have quite rightly been rewarded for two years hard work and dedication,” said Paul Cornish, “I could not be prouder of them and their teachers; perhaps more so than in any other more normal year.” he added.Whilst all students should be delighted with what they have achieved, particular performances of note came from: Kezia Bovey BBA*A; Sam Bovey AAA; Imogen Bray ABBB; Callum Endean AA*A*; Millie Mabbutt ABB; Callum McGivern Dist*Dist*Dist; Isabelle Osborne ABB; Harry Partridge A*B Dist*; and Izzy Warren B Dist*Dist.Mr Cornish was quick to highlight that these qualifications (A Levels and Level 3 BTECs) are externally awarded qualifications – with the same value as for any previous cohort. “They are not, as some people believe, just teacher awarded grades. Yes, our staff were asked for their professional opinions on what our students might have achieved in their examinations – but this was then one piece of info amongst many used by the examination boards and Ofqual to award the students their externally awarded qualifications. We had some moderated up, some stay the same and some moderated down.”Tami Harrison, Chair of Governors, said “Our Year 13 students leave the College this year with excellent academic qualifications and should go ahead into the future with confidence, pride and anticipation. Whatever they are doing next…university, apprenticeships, employment…we wish them well.”SOUTH DARTMOOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPORTSStudents at South Dartmoor Community College and Atrium Sixth Form are celebrating, after initial figures indicated they have achieved another set of strong results - maintaining their position as one of the highest performing sixth forms in the county.Many students have gained top grades (A*) in one or more subjects and will secure places at top universities. Provisional projections suggest more than 35% of those applying to higher education will progress to a Russell Group university. There were also significant gains in BTEC and CTEC studies.With an overall 98% pass rate`(an increase on last year), more than 20% of students were awarded A*- A, 44% achieved an A* - B and 71% were graded A* - C. Eleven students achieved A*, four of those attaining two A*, with more under review.The Head of Sixth Form, Jared Baldwin, said: “All our students have achieved the grades they needed to progress to their chosen higher education destinations. I would like to congratulate students on the grades achieved and recognise the hard work and effort they and our staff have made during a difficult time. The spread of success across a broad range of subject areas underpins the in strength and depth of the sixth form. The results and student progress are particularly pleasing given we have open entry and are not a selective college.“We know that a number of our students, including our highest achievers, have succeeded in the face of formidable personal obstacles, even before Covid-19 became an issue; including serious personal and family health issues, personal challenges and significant disadvantage and we are particularly proud of their success.”Emma Dixon, Deputy Head Teacher, said: “We are delighted for our students, the results are really strong and may yet get stronger with appeals. We will be doing everything we can to support students if we feel they have been unfairly treated in the circumstances we find ourselves in. It is a testament to how well our teachers know our students, the excellent relationships combined with outstanding subject knowledge has resulted in a set of results that the college is exceptionally proud of. We look forward to watching South Dartmoor students flourish in the next stage of their educational journey, whatever that may be.”Individual success included: Tom Spurrell and Emily Mant who will continue the sixth form’s proud track record of students continuing to go on to study medicine. Twins Chloe and Shannon Whittle, who both achieved a distinction star and two distinctions in CTEC Sport and are both going to Plymouth MarJon University to continue their studies in sports related fields. Josh Orrell, who gained a place with EDF's Degree Apprenticeship scheme, in the face of intense competition.Other outstanding outcomes included: Kieran Till - two A*, two AsSam Hodgeson - three distinction starsSapphire Juno-Abbott - two As and one distinction starSafiya Joscelyne - one A*, two AsJoshua Medland-Grey - three distinction starsTom Spurrell - two A*, one A, one BTara Micheals - two A* and one BEmily Mant - two As and one BRaph Allnatt - one A* and two AsSOUTH DEVON UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (UTC) REPORTS:

After a year full of challenges, students from South Devon University Technical College (UTC) are celebrating today after receiving impressive A Level and Diploma results.

Newton Abbot’s pioneering technical college opened its doors from 8.30am this morning for the scientists and engineers of the future to collect their exam results. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, A Level exams were cancelled this year, so exam boards have instead given out grades based on assessments and rankings supplied by the teachers at South Devon UTC.

There is much to celebrate with 50% of engineering students achieving at least TWO distinction stars, and of those, 38% achieving triple distinction stars, the highest grade in these qualifications. Exceptional performance is also clearly presented in Science with 75% of scientists achieving the highest qualification of triple distinction star in BTEC Applied Science.

Notable successes were Chayton Jackson-Smith, who passed with an A* in physics, A in maths, extended project and a B in biology.

Millie Thomas, James Stapleton and Lewis Bartlett achieved triple Distinction stars in the Extended Diploma in engineering.

Joe Strickland and Mary Owen both achieved triple Distinction stars in the Extended Diploma in applied science and a grade C in A Level English literature/language.

All South Devon UTC graduates this year have achieved the grades or higher to contribute to their STEM specialist destinations.

Some students are progressing on to study various degree courses including physics, biomedical sciences, midwifery, environmental science, forensic science and others at the University of Exeter, Cardiff, Plymouth and University of the West of England.

A number of other students are in the final stages of applications to prepare for careers in engineering within the Royal Navy, continuing to strengthen the bond South Devon UTC has forged through its partnership with the Royal Navy.

Commenting on the grades achieved by South Devon UTC students who collected their results today, Principal Claire Plumb said: ‘This remarkable group of students contributed so much to school life and should be extremely proud of the hard work which led to these results.

‘I am enormously proud of our students for their successes in this, particularly as they have faced such challenges this year caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

‘This is the fourth round of Diploma and A Level results reported by the college since we launched in 2015 and our results are continuing to improve and strengthen in all areas of study but especially in engineering and science.

‘We’ve seen motivation, dedication and passion from our students this year, all striving to achieve good results in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

‘Before the pandemic hit, we had a jam-packed year full of activities including a visit to the science laboratories at the Environment Agency, participating in the Look Beyond campaign for National Apprenticeship Week and preparing for the Royal Navy Engineering Challenge.

‘I am also delighted that our team of teachers, students and employer partner organisations worked so well together to develop young people who are not only well-rounded as potential employees but can also perform to a high standard on an academic level.

‘I wish our leavers all the best in their future adventures.

‘We look forward to welcoming the next group of aspiring scientists, mathematicians, environmentalists and engineers through our doors in September.’

Principal Plumb said based in Newton Abbot, South Devon UTC is a science and engineering specialist school which offers 14 to 19-year-olds more than the traditional GCSE and A Level curriculum. Launched in 2015, South Devon UTC has a mission: ‘to establish a world class centre of excellence in engineering, water and the environment’ for any young people who have an interest in these fields in order to ‘develop a new generation of engineers, scientists and environmentalists.’

Students work towards GCSEs and A Levels as well as technical qualifications in engineering and science. The college provides an environment that mirrors the workplace, helping students develop important employability skills to prepare them for a job, apprenticeship or degree when they leave school.

South Devon UTC partners with local businesses and can therefore offer its students hands-on experience of the work environment and also the type of employment that might follow on from their studies.

South Devon UTC is now recruiting students for the 2021/22 academic year. Open mornings run every Friday from 11.30am to 12.30pm. Register your interest to attend by calling 01626 240201 or visit www.southdevonutc.org/open-evenings.