THE Axe Valley Community College trio Polly Budden, Alana Berry and Laura Gould all received outstanding results.

THE Axe Valley Community College trio Polly Budden, Alana Berry and Laura Gould all received outstanding results.

From high achiever Poll - to Alana, who had upped her grades from Us to As - all the girls were delighted on learning their grades.

Polly, of Whitwell Lane, Colyford, put off opening her results envelope for over an hour.

She told the Herald: "I'm a bit nervous. I don't want to open it yet. I'm nervous about how I've done."

She will stay on at The Axe Valley Community College sixth form to study A-Levels in law, history, psychology, English Literature, French and Critical Thinking.

She plans to go to university, possibly to study history or law.

Student Alana Berry, who bought her mascot Minge for luck, showed how hard work can overcome adversary. She said she had previously struggled academically, and was gaining E to U grades.

However, she was delighted to learn she had achieved 11 GCSEs, including two A*s and two As.

She said: I'm so happy. I did so much better than I expected. I started off really low in the school and worked my way up.

"I guess I just lacked confidence and it came over the years. I was definitely encouraged by the teachers."

Head teacher Martin Smith added: "The success we have had this year is because we make sure nobody falls behind.

"We have been determined to help students not on track - raise their confidence and boost their achievement. It's about expecting the best from everybody."

And Laura Gould, who had been feeling uneasy that morning, gained two A*s, six As, and three Bs. She said: "I'm very happy. I worked very hard - staying up until 2am every night doing my course work.

"I actually felt sick this morning so it's a big relief. But now I have to think about my A-Levels!