OKEHAMPTON College is again celebrating hitting high performance rates for the second year in a row, after students picked up their GCSE results last week.

Youngsters gathered in corridors and classrooms to open their results, while others waited for their friends and family to arrive last Thursday.

The record-breaking grades meant the college should remain in the top 20% of schools in the country.

Headteacher Daryll Chapman said he was overjoyed with the results this year.

He said: 'The five A* to Cs, without English and Maths, is 73% — the highest the college has ever had.

'Since 2001, the college has gone from 48% to 73%, showing a tremendous improvement.

'The five A* to Cs, with English and Maths, got 62% and that is the highest the college has ever had, which means for the second year running we have hit high performance.'

Mr Chapman said he felt extremely proud of all the students.

He said: 'It's been a good year group and they have responded very well to all the work the staff have put in.

'It was always going to be difficult to maintain the high standard, but we've done it and the students really have been absolutely superb.

'There will be lots of very happy youngsters and parents.

'It's always a nerve-racking time of year, but we have a very close tracking and monitoring service in place, so we knew that we had a potentially very good year group.'

Mr Chapman said he would encourage students to return to the college next year.

He added: 'It is never too late to come back and if there are youngsters who want to come back, who haven't made an application, I would urge them to reconsider and apply — we will welcome them back with open arms.

'Everyone has done so well and and I am very proud of all the students.'

Megan Brooking, 16 from Northlew, said she was looking forward to returning to Okehampton College next year.

She said: 'I am really happy with my results, especially my textiles grade because I got an A*.

'I'm coming back to study IT, Biology, Chemistry and Geography next year.'

Jonathan Hill, 16, from Beaworthy, said: 'I think I did quite well. I did better than I expected and I got an A* in English Literature, which I didn't expect.

'I will be coming back next year to study ICT, Maths, Drama and Food Technology.'

Chanelle Gilberton, 15 from Winkleigh, said she was both surprised and happy with her results.

She said: 'I got seven A*'s. I am very pleased with my grades, I was worried that I hadn't studied as hard as I could, but I did and I am really happy.'

Shebbear College headmaster Bob Barnes was delighted with this year's GCSE exam results, in which 85% of students achieved at least five A* to C passes.

He said it was particularly pleasing that 39% of passes were at A* and A grade, which boded well for the future.