South Devon College students are celebrating their exam results today, with a 99 per cent overall pass rate across A level subjects, and 66 per cent achieving A*–C grades.

The College is marking particularly strong performance in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business, English Language, Further Maths and Maths, History, Law, Politics, Psychology, RE and Sociology all achieving above the national average continuing its track record of consistently high outcomes for students.

Students are also celebrating strong AS Level, T Level and vocational results today, with an 83 per cent pass rate in the Education T Level.

Matthew Harbour, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO, said: "All our students have worked incredibly hard to achieve their A level results, with many securing places at top universities both locally and further afield."

18-year-old Darjhe Gunasekara from Paignton is celebrating his A level results today. He achieved maths (A*), further maths (B), physics (A) and chemistry (B).

“I am really happy with my results,” he said. “Especially the A in physics, as you can do a lot more with an A grade than a B.”

Darjhe says he is probably going to decline his university offer and go through clearing. He’s hoping to get a place at either Manchester or Birmingham University to study theoretical physics.

“I really enjoyed studying at the college. I did my GCSEs here and I loved the step up to A level and all the extra content you learn. All my teachers helped me through it.”

19-year-old Bianca Marcu is also celebrating her A level results today.

Bianca, who lives in Paignton, achieved biology (A), maths (B) and chemistry (B) and is off to Exeter University to study computer science with a year in industry.

She plans to work in cyber security and says her passion for computer science started when she studied it at GCSE.

Bianca says she really enjoyed studying at South Devon College.

“The teachers were amazing they gave us a lot of support, and the environment really allows you to thrive.”

19-year-old Ashton Nkomo is one step closer to fulfilling his career dreams today.

Ashton, who comes from Zimbabwe, achieved A level chemistry (A), biology (A) and maths (B), and he’s off to Plymouth University to study biomedical science to go into medicine.

He wants to specialise in cardiology as he’s interested in the heart.

“I really enjoyed studying at South Devon College,” he said. “All the teachers are very supportive, and my family is very proud of me.”

Isabelle Penhaligon from Paignton is also celebrating as she collects her A level results in sociology (B), history (C) and psychology (D).

The 18-year-old, who is the first person in her family to go to university, is off to Plymouth to study marine conservation.

"I've lived by the sea for my whole life," she said. "As a child my parents couldn't get me out of the water, and I'm fascinated by the vast number of different species in the ocean."

Isabelle's course covers the sociological side of marine conservation, including a module on climate change, microplastics and human impact on the oceans, with the chance to get out on the water for research. Her dream job is working in a turtle or seal sanctuary.

Maria Waldron from Torbay is celebrating as she collects her A level results in history (C), criminology (C), law (D) alongside an Extended Project Qualification (B).

The 18-year-old, a former student ambassador at South Devon College and the first person in her immediate family to go to university, wants to be a barrister and is heading to the University of Reading to study law.

Maria's EPQ explored her own experiences of the justice system as a child, experiences that have since led to a change in the law, and she wants to use them to help others.

"I chose the University of Reading because they have fabulous opportunities to shadow people and spend time in Crown Court," she said.

Amelia Bulman from Paignton collected her A level results today in business studies (C), English literature (C) and philosophy (C).

The 18-year-old, a former student governor at South Devon College, is now working at Chief Rentals on a three-year traineeship, having been offered the role after work experience with the company. "I'm not ready to go to university yet," she explained. "I may go in the future as I would like to be a teacher."

Amelia's customer-facing role involves helping people hire vehicles, handling insurance claims and checking vehicles in and out. "I'm loving my new job, and my mum is very proud of me," she said.

Ryan Davis is celebrating his A level results today in business studies (B), politics (C) and philosophy (D).

The 18-year-old from Dartmouth, who would love to be an entrepreneur and names business studies as his favourite subject, is taking a gap year. He plans to get his driving licence and a job, saving towards a car before starting an apprenticeship.

"I found studying at South Devon College enjoyable. The teachers were supportive and knew how to make the topics interesting," he said.

18-year-old Theo Dodd from Newton Abbot, who has secured himself an apprenticeship, is celebrating achieving a merit in his T level technical qualification in design and development for engineering and manufacturing (Level 3) today.

Theo is starting his apprenticeship at Teignbridge Propellers in Newton Abbot next month and is looking forward to a career in the marine sector.

“I got lots of support and career advice at South Devon College,” he said.

South Devon College offers academic and vocational courses, giving students options, while setting them up for the world of work.

The sixth form offer is built around the belief that academic and technical education carry equal weight in preparing students for careers with a future.

Matthew Harbour continues: "Because our learners can mix A Levels with a wide range of vocational and technical qualifications, including T Levels, rather than being asked to choose one path over the other, we have seen a continued improvement in our results this year. That flexibility is backed by investment: a dedicated sixth form zone with its own common area and a laptop for every sixth form student from day one - we are bringing down as many barriers as possible to ensure our students get results that reflect their talents and hard work, whether they choose academic, technical or professional pathways.”