Exmouth Community College pupils are celebrating a record breaking set of GCSE results.

A week after A Level students reached new heights, 70 per cent of pupils gained at least five A* to C grades – a record high, and continuing an upward trend from the 57 per cent rate achieved only four years ago.

The college also saw 57 per cent of pupils record five A* to C grades including English and maths – a slight drop on last year, but still the second highest ever.

The number of pupils achieving five A* to G grades also increased, to 92 per cent, and the average pupil point score increased from 390 to 410.

Head of year Andy Bown said: “These GCSE results reflect the students’ hard work and determination to succeed.

“They have taken advantage of all the extra classes provided by staff during the holidays and on Saturday mornings, and I’m proud of their achievement.”

College principal Tony Alexander said: “This has been an extremely good year group – they’ve done a lot of things for charity, and shown excellence in sport and in performing arts.

“The good atmosphere here this morning reflects them well – very hard working and industrious, and very pleasant.

“I think they will do very well in the future.”

Among the celebrating pupils was Megan Barnett, who achieved six A * grades.

She said: “I was so nervous when I came in today, but I did better than I expected.

“I didn’t have a life for ages because I was revising, but now I’ve got my results it was all worth it.”

Lauren Osman, who achieved four A*s and four As, said: “I did much better than I thought. I worked really hard for my exams, and I’d hoped the hard work would pay off but I didn’t expect this at all – I’m so happy!”

Melanie Ashwin, who got four A*s and four As, said: “I’m really relieved, because as I waited for results day I got more and more nervous, but I’ve done better than I expected.

“I’m staying here to do A levels, then I’m hoping to study psychology at university.”

Among the other high achievers were Oliver Brown, who got nine A*s and two As, Melissa Pawson and Michael le Guillou, who got eight A* grades, Daniela Schenk, who got seven A*s and three As, Jessica Miller and Matthew Harrison, who achieved sic A* grades, Jessie Dunn, Kirk Chapman, Sarah Collinge and Laurie Ranft who achieved five A* grades, and Emily Fowler, who achieved ten A grades and an A*.