There were tears of happiness as students in Teignbridge collected their A level results on Thursday, writes Dawn Ellis. And Stover School, Newton Abbot, was celebrating the fact that for the fourth consecutive year, one of its pupils had achieved a Top Candidate Award. Teign School, Kingsteignton, celebrated a 100 per cent pass rate. 'All of them passed and all the students who wanted to go to university got places,' said Tony Dolan, head of Teign School 6th Form. 'The results are pretty much as we expected and the students have worked hard and met our expectations. Although many argue that A levels are now easier, Mr Dolan said: 'This somewhat undervalues the students' achievements and they have worked very hard. I believe A levels are a good way of assessing the students.' Student Sue McAusland got two C grades and a D, was pleased with her results and screamed when she found out she had a place at Aberystwyth University. 'I think my dad is buying a bottle of champagne and I think I'll be celebrating the news with my family,' she said. Coombeshead college, Newton Abbot, students reaped the benefits after working hard with a pass rate of 96 per cent. Top of the class was Jamie Dennis who scooped four grade As, in chemistry, mathematics, physics and psychology. 'I was predicted these grades but can't believe I've actually got them. I'm chuffed to bits,' he said. He is taking a year off to do a full-time guitar course before taking up his place at Warwick University to study engineering. Giverney Edwards, 18, gained As in drama, English literature and performing arts. She will study English literature at Loughborough University. She said: 'I'm thrilled to bits with my grades as I've done better than I expected.' Twin sisters Maria and Kayleigh Willcocks were delighted with their double achievement. Maria got grade As in art and psychology and a B in English language and Kayleigh picked up two As in art and geography and a C in biology. Maria, 18, is off to Southampton University to study psychology after she's saved money during a gap year. Glenn Smith, assistant principal in charge of post 16 education at the college, was similarly delighted. He said: 'I'm really pleased with them all. My motto is that you get what you deserve and I think this especially applies on days like today.' Pupils at Knowles Hill Sixth Form, Newton Abbot, were equally happy . 'We are very pleased, results are significantly up with 60 per cent gaining top grades A, B and C,' said Dr Colin Pope, headteacher. 'It looks like another successful year for students going to their university places.' Top performers were Alexa Akers, who got three A grades, while Rachel Candy, Michelle Coombes and Amanda Stolworthy received two A grades and a B. Said Alexa: 'I knew I'd done well on my coursework but it is still a surprise to get these results. When I was younger I never thought I'd end up going to university.' Strong A level and VCE (vocational) results were achieved by 101 Sixth Form students at South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton. A quarter of all passes were grade A, with almost half (48 per cent) scoring A or B grades. An impressive 70 per cent of grades were C or above, opening doors to university entrance for students with many gaining first choice places. Star pupils include Natasha Rhys, who gained three A grades and a B plans to read physics at Imperial College, London, and Mark Biesta, who achieved the same grades, has several university offers to consider. 'These results show high overall performance and well deserved achievements based on really hard work by our students and excellent teaching at the college,' said Ray Tarleton, South Dartmoor Community College principal. Stover School also did well, with a 100 per cent pass rate and A and B grades were up by nine per cent this year. The school was also thrilled that for the fourth consecutive year a pupil has achieved a Top Candidate Award. Nicole Leung, from Hong Kong, was in the top five across the country in AQA Pure Mathematics. Stover pupils Kimberley Fairbrother, from Haytor, and headgirl Rachel Marsh, from Liverton, also gained high grades. Kimberley gained two grade As in art and media studies and Grade B in history, plus an AS level Grade D in French. She will study an art foundation degree at the Kent Institute of Art and Design Rachel achieved two Grade As in photography and media studies, gained a grade B in music and will study at the Welsh College of Music.
