Shebbear College students are celebrating a strong performance at A-level with a third of all grades achieved being A or A* — well above the national average.

Although Shebbear is a non-selective school, 78% of all grades were A*-C and UK students achieved a 100% pass rate.

There were several excellent individual performances, notably in the sciences, and a number of students are looking forward to starting at leading universities.

Emilio Aliberti was delighted to learn that his A*s in biology and chemistry together with his A grade in maths has secured his place at Durham University to read Medicine.

Jack Honey’s four A grades in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry allow him to study Physics at Manchester.

Julian Blaskiewicz gained straight As in Maths, Physics and Chemistry and this will allow him to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering and Tom Hill will study Maths at Bath, having achieved A*s in maths and further maths, an A in physics and a B in chemistry.

Another A grade mathematician, head girl Katie Trask will fulfil her ambition of studying Biomedical Material Science at Birmingham.

Headmaster Simon Weale was thrilled with the results.

He said: “The A-level is quite rightly considered the gold standard of British Education and all of our students study for them.

“I am particularly delighted that we have had such excellent results in both the Sciences and in Maths where 73% of our grades were A or A*.

“However, this is not just a day for the high flyers and I am just as pleased for those students who have managed to achieve the two or three A-level passes which will allow them to start the next phase of their life.

“All of our leavers will now be able to start on university courses if they wish to and they have shown the resilience to cope with life away from home and the ability to make a constructive contribution to society.”

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.