THE long wait for many Year 11 students at Okehampton College was finally over on Tuesday morning, when it was time to rip open the brown envelopes to reveal their GCSE results writes John Hutchins.

Whether it was a moment of joy or disappointment, the GCSE results are an important stepping stone in the lives of all the 16-year-olds.

Acting principal Derrick Brett was delighted with the efforts of the students and the hard work put in by the college staff.

He said: 'We are very pleased with both the results at A level and now the GCSEs. We have 62.5% of GCSE students achieving 5 A*-C grades, including English and maths.

'It is pleasing to see so many happy students here this morning and leaving the college today in great spirits with great hopes for their future.

'We spend the last year at the college with students to ensure that they have a good idea of what their next step will be — whether they come back to college, on to further education elsewhere or take up employment.

'It is a competitive world out there and our job is to help these young people take the first steps to fulfilling their individual potential.'

The current economic situation means there are fewer jobs and apprenticeships for the latest batch of GCSE students — so the pressure is perhaps more intense on the individual to earn as many high grades as possible.

Top Okehampton College students at GCSE level included Penrose Henry from Chagford, who earned seven A* grades, 6 As and an AS; Rachel Laidlaw achieved 6As* and 5As, Gregory Bland 5As* and 5As while Diggory North gained 5A*s, 3As and 3Bs.

Daryll Chapman, the principal, who has been the temporary principal this year at Tavistock College, was also proud of the results achieved by his Okehampton students.

'I am very pleased we exceeded our expectations and targets, as 62.5% of GCSE students achieving 5 A*-C grades, including English and maths, when we were predicting 57%. It means that for three consecutive years we have hit over 62%.

'I am full of praise for the hard work put in both by students and staff to achieve these results. One area I am particularly pleased is in English language, which is one of our target subjects, where are additional Saturday morning sessions and after school classes have obviously paid off.'

Shebbear College said it was delighted with its students' GCSE results. At this level, 85% of pupils achieved at least five A* to C grade.