‘Extremely proud’ is the verdict of Honiton Community College’s principal, after the GCSE results were released this morning (Thursday, August 22).
A total of 64 per cent of the students achieved a standard pass (grades 9 to 4) in English and mathematics, with more than half awarded a strong pass (grades 9 to 5). In all, 99 per cent of all entries gained a grade.
GCSEs are graded from 1 to 9, with grade 9 being the equivalent of an A*.
Principal Glenn Smith said: "This is a true testament to our guiding principle of 'success for all' - our inclusive approach, working as a community that strives to provide a first-class education for all students really pays dividends.
"We are extremely proud of the whole year group, whatever their ability. Under the new grading scheme a grade 8 would have been an A* and a grade 9 is awarded to only approximately 4.5% of all entries nationally."
"On behalf of staff and governors we wish all of our students every success in the future, many of whom will be returning in September to take up their post-16 studies in our very successful sixth form - no doubt aiming to replicate the achievements of this year's Year 13.
"Finally, we would like to thank the staff and governors for all their hard work and support and the parents/carers of Year 11 students for their encouragement and backing over the last five years."
Students at Axe Valley Academy are celebrating a fantastic set of GCSE results, building on the significant gains of 2018.
More than 70 per cent of students achieved grade 4 or above in English and 76 per cent achieved grade 4 or above in maths.
A remarkable 24 per cent of all maths grades achieved were 7, 8 or 9; 12 per cent of all GCSE grades achieved were 7, 8 or 9, and 11 per cent all of vocational grades were distinction or distinction*.
The top performing students were: Jessie Holmes (four grade 9s, two grade 8s, two grade 7s, one grade 6 and a Distinction*), Robin Ellis (three grade 9s, three grade 8s, two grade 7s and two grade 6s) and Ellie King (three grade 9s, two grade 8s, four grade 7s and one grade 6).
Isabelle Coman, Simon Herbert and Daniel Rowe also achieved a grade 9 in one or more of their GCSE subjects; Sophie Brennan, Isabelle Coman, Daniel Rowe, Ella Shephard, Poppy Tooze, Louise Tyne and Patrick Tytherleigh achieved a distinction or distinction* in one or more of their vocational subjects.
In addition, the following students made the most progress since joining Axe Valley Academy: Ellie King, Ioan Nita, Poppy Tooze and Helga Hofrate.
A spokesman said: "Students at Axe Valley Academy have worked so hard for their GCSEs this year and they should be incredibly proud of their achievements.
"These results are not only a testament to the commitment and hard work of students and staff but also the support of their parents. We wish them well in the next step in their educational journey."
The Woodroffe School, at Lyme Regis, has achieved another remarkable set of GCSE results, with 83 per cent of students gaining more than five standard passes, including English and Maths.
In English, 87 per cent of students achieved a standard pass (4+), with 76 per cent achieving a strong pass (5+).
In Maths, 89 per cent of students achieved a standard pass (4+), with 71 per cent achieving a strong pass (5+). The combined 'basics' figures were very impressive, with 84 per cent of students achieving a standard pass in both English and maths, and 64 per cent achieving a strong pass.
Woodroffe is unusual in that the majority of students continue to take a modern foreign language at GCSE. This means that the school's eBacc scores are always high, and this year it was no different with 45 per cent of them achieving the eBacc. Entries for separate sciences are also always high and this year the standard pass rate was 100 per cent in all three subjects.
Adam Shelley, acting headteacher, said: "For a fully comprehensive school, this represents outstanding performance and one which confirms the school's Ofsted Outstanding status.
"Coupled with last week's excellent A-Level results, this has been a superb year for the school and its students."
There were some excellent individual performances with a host of students gaining impressive sets of grades, including a good number of the new harder to attain grade 9s.
Top performers were Rudi Ellis-Jones - seven 9s, one 8 and two 7s; Holly Thompson - seven 9s, one 8; Iris Parkin - five 9s, and two 8s; George Bond - four 9s and five 8s; Lauren Taylor - two 9s and five 8s; Mathew Bartlett - four 9s and one 8; Georgie Howarth-Yates - two 9s and three 8s; Rachel Dowding - two 9s and three 8s; Maisie McCarthy - one 9 and five 8s; Jessica Leat - one 9 and five 8s.
Mr Shelley added: "This is an excellent set of results and I am absolutely delighted that so many of our students have done so well.
"The students have worked incredibly hard and I applaud their commitment and determination. They have achieved high grades across a broad range of disciplines. I would also like to recognise the dedication of the Woodroffe staff who have worked very hard to ensure that our students achieve excellent results.
"I am delighted to say that the vast majority of students will be joining the sixth form where I am sure they will continue to do well.
"A-Level results were also impressive this year and serve to underline the overall excellence of the school."
Students at Holyrood Academy, in Chard, have excelled in their GCSE examinations.
Some 60 per cent attained the new 'pass grade' in both English and maths, while 99 per cent of students attained at least 5 GCSEs across their chosen range of subjects. the average number of passes per student is nine.
The youngsters also excelled in vocational courses with a large number achieving distinction and distinction*.
There have been some exceptional individual achievements across the whole ability range, with many students surpassing their target grades.
Top performing students this year included:
Lorna Warren who achieved nine grade 9s, a grade 8 and two grade 7s.
Edith Evans with seven grade 9s and four grade 8s.
Nicola Mullane with five grade 9s, four grade 8s and a Distinction.
Madeleine Grabham with four grade 9s, five grade 8s, a grade 7 and a Distinction*.
Luke Lifton with four grade 9s, two grade 8s and a grade 7.
Many students met and surpassed their challenging target grades, however Alicia Clennan, Charlotte Jebson, Amelia Hart, Edward Sterry and Harry Washbourne excelled by exceeding their target grades by two or more grades in each subject.
Pauline Lamond, head of this Year 11, said: "They have been an amazing year group and their hard work has paid off. Well done to all, I shall miss our laughs."
Colyton Grammar School celebrated an exceptional set of GCSE results - with the school pupils acheiving grades 9 to 7 four times the national average.
Two students were declared the best in the country for business studies out of a field of 48,685.
In all, 85 per cent of students who sat GCSEs this year achieved the top three grades of 9 to 7 and 41 per cent achieved a grade 9, even better than last year.
Some 32 students achieved the coveted eight or more subjects with grade 9, around a quarter of this year's GCSEs cohort.
In total, 24 students achieved 9 grade 9s, 14 achieved 10 grade 9s and seven achieved 11 grade 9s.
More than 90 per cent of Colyton Grammar School candidates achieved grades 9 to 7 in religious education, physics, biology, business studies, geography and computer science.
Around one-third of RE candidates achieved a grade 9, while in business studies almost three-quarters achieved a grade 9.
Tim Harris, headteacher at Colyton Grammar School, said: "We are extraordinarily proud of our GCSE cohort and their outstanding results.
"They, and the staff who teach them, have achieved these results against a national background of change and challenge and they should be congratulated."
Colyton Grammar School's outstanding GCSE results come hard on the heels of equally outstanding results for A-level, where some 66 per cent of students achieved A and A* grades, compared with the national average of 25.5 per cent.
Overall, 87.1 per cent achieved grades from A* to B, with the school outperforming its results from last year and bucking the national trend.
Fourteen Colyton students obtained four A* grades. Nine students are holding offers from Oxbridge and a further five have places on medical and veterinarian courses.
Colyton Grammar School is expanding its sixth-form.
Sixth form entry requirements are at least 50 points from eight GCSEs, including 5s in English and maths.
For those wanting to study maths and sciences at A-level they will need 7s in their chosen subjects.
For Further Maths, an 8 is required, and for all other subjects 6s.
There is an Open Day for Year 7 Entry 2020 on Thursday September 5 at 2.45pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here