STUDENTS across Mid Devon were leaping for joy after they received their A Level results.

Dozens of nervous teenagers picked up their marks yesterday, with many heading into employment, university or apprenticeships following two tough years of studying.

Nationally, the overall pass rate at grades A* to E remained unchanged at 98.1 per cent, but there were a record number of students achieving a university place.

The number of people achieving A* or A grades is at 25.8 per cent down marginally from 25.9 per cent last year, and has fallen for the fifth year in a row.

The gap between girls and boys receiving the top grades has narrowed to its smallest for at least 10 years. The number of girls who got A or higher was 0.3 percentage points more than the number of boys.

In Mid Devon, there was an impressive 99 per cent pass rate at A* to E grades at Blundell's School. Forty-one per cent of pupils gained A* or A grades, with 23 pupils gaining three A grades and higher.

Students taking AS results ever at Blundell’s: from a cohort of 107 pupils, one third of the pupils gained A grades with 75% of the grades at A-C and a 95% pass rate.

Many pupils have gained impressive results and places at top universities including Natalie Cotton who gained five A* grades to study Natural Sciences at Newnham, Cambridge and Eleanor Ansell, who will join her there, after achieving three A* grades to read Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Homerton College.

There has been a very high rate of acceptance for Blundell’s students into their first choice of university; other popular destinations include Bath, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Manchester, while post A Level applicant Silvia Mills goes to St Hugh’s College, Oxford to read Philosophy and Linguistics.

Headteacher Nicola Huggett said: "Once again I extend my warm and sincere congratulations to all our pupils in another year of excellent achievement.

"We are all so proud of them as they have worked extremely hard to achieve these results.

"These are all the more impressive as they continued to be involved in school life alongside their academic studies, such as taking part in sport and musical commitments throughout their final year.

"In addition to those going to university next month, several of our Upper Sixth have some interesting and prestigious opportunities in the work place lined up, including an apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover and a gap year working with Ove Arup."

At Queen Elizabeth's School in Crediton, 99 per cent of students gained a pass, with 55 per cent of students gaining an A* to B grade.

Tilly Clark achieved incredible 100 per cent% in her Geography paper, helping her secure A* in Geography, A* in Law and A in History, A in English Literature. Tilly will now head to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in the Autumn.

The highest achieving male student was John Gray who achieved a A* in Geography and A grades in Maths, Biology and Physics and will be going to Durham University in the Autumn.

Rupert Poole Principal at the Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton, said: “The progress measures of the students at QE have been impressive for several years and this year is no different.

"It is down to a combination of an excellent work ethic among the students and the expert guidance of our sixth form staff, who are particularly good at supporting our students to progress."