THERE were plenty of joyful tears and happy faces at Okehampton College last Thursday, as the school enjoyed its best ever year of GCSE results.

The college achieved a 71% pass rate of students gaining the 'gold standard' of five A* to C grades, including English and maths. The pass rate is a 3% improvement on last year's results.

The notable success bucked the national picture which for the second year in a row, saw a drop in the proportion of GCSE exam entries awarded top grades.

When the 'gold standard' benchmark was measured in 2006, the college's performance was 36%. Since then the school has seen a big improvement, and in seven years has doubled its gold standard achievement. It has also managed to maintain the high levels of results since in the last three years.

Overall, 93% of students achieved five A* to C grades, which is 7% higher than last year, and the college's highest ever performance.

Achievement in the English Baccalaureate - a performance measure which recognises students who have secured an A* to C grade across English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language - has also risen sharply to 34%. That is a huge increase on last year's statistic, and double the national average.

A large number of Year 10 students also took GCSE exams in maths and English this year, with great success.

Molly Pethbridge was one of many students to do well. Having achieved eight A*s, two As and a distinction, she will stay at the college to start AS Levels in English language, biology, maths, French and GCSE Spanish next year.

She said: 'I am buzzing right now, I am so happy with these results. I was really nervous leading up to getting my results, especially in English, but I am so happy with these results.'

Shona Eustace also achieved eight A*s, two As and a distinction. Like Molly, she will attend the college sixth form to study maths, English language, geography and biology.

She said: 'I am very very happy, it's hard to describe right now. I was really nervous before I got my results, I thought I might have messed up one or two, but I am just so happy.'

Among the other high achievers at the college were Alice Rubbra with ten A*s and a distinction. Ella Creamer, with nine A*s, Alisa Gibb with eight A*s, 2 As and a distinction, Emily Jobling with seven A*s and three As, and Nokomis Ramao Gonzalez with eight A*s, two As and a distinction.

Principal Darryl Chapman said: 'We are absolutely delighted with how the students have done this year. We have gained tremendously on last year, especially when you consider the concern about the turbulence in the exam system.

'There has been a stiffening of exams, particularly obviously in the sciences. So to get this set of results is exceptional. It is down to the amazing relationship between students and staff, and to the incredible hard work of everyone at the college, students and staff alike.

'We are sitting very strong, with three exceptional years on the bounce. To go up 3% on last year's gold standard is very pleasing, and our overall five A* to C grades is our highest ever, by a really long margin. These results will put us as one of the top schools in Devon. Last year we were in the top five, and I am sure we will be there again with these results.

'We are very very pleased. It is always a work in progress, with another set of Year 11s next year, but we hope this success can inspire them, and we can go on to do well again next year.'

College vice-principal Derrick Brett added: 'This has been a lovely year group. They have been a true delight to be with. They have the balance of academic achievement and just being decent people. It's been a real pleasure.'