Students across Teignbridge were ripping open envelopes to find out how they had fared in this year’s A Levels and Level 3 BTEC exams.

Nationally, around 76% of applicants were accepted into their first choice of university.

Students from South Devon UTC, Coombeshead Academy and Teign School in Newton Abbot, were picking up their A Level and BTEC exam results earlier this morning. 

The curriculum for 16 to 18 year olds at South Devon UTC offers the opportunity to mix and balance both the technical and the creative pathways of digital technology. 

UTC student Hollie Carnell received a BTEC Distinction in Health and Social Care and is going to the University of Plymouth to study Nursing. Lauren Tapp also got a BTEC Distinction in Health and Social Care. She will be studying Nursing at the University of Exeter. 

Freya White received a BTEC Distinction in Health and Social Care, she will be attending the University of Brighton to study Paediatric Nursing. Cody Takel got a BTEC Distinction in Engineering and will begin an Engineering apprenticeship shortly. 

Claire Plumb, Head of College at South Devon UTC said: ‘I am delighted with the achievements of all the UTC students who have collected their BTEC results today. I know how hard they have worked and am confident they are leaving us as prepared as possible to pursue their chosen career path.’

At Coombeshead Academy in Newton Abbot, students are moving on to a wide range of destinations: from universities including the Exeter, Gloucestershire, East London, Birmingham and Plymouth; starting on apprenticeships; heading directly to full time employment; and entering the military. 

Coombeshead student Harry Northwood received an A in Photography and a B in Graphics. Victoria Sibley got a Distinction* in Music and Sophie Cane received an A* in Graphics, an A in Textiles and a Distinction in Food. Toni Courtier got a B in Maths, a B in Further Maths and a  Distinction in Sport. Jessica Kealy received an A* in Biology and an A in Maths. 

‘With the effects of studying through difficult times during Covid still leaving an impact for our 2024 cohort, their successes and resilience deserve high praise and recognition,’ said Coombeshead Academy head Helen Coulson.

‘We are very proud of this group of students that show with these results that success is possible in Coombeshead sixth form no matter the challenges faced.’

Kingsteignton’s Teign Sixth Form College has recently benefited from new facilities, including a Sixth Form-only entrance, garden, study space, common room and café. In addition, every student is given a laptop to keep to ensure they have the equipment needed to study.

Teign student Maddy Gale achieved a place at Loughborough University to study Chemistry, achieving A* in Physics and Maths and an A in Chemistry. As one of the House Captains Eliya Gale exhibited the role model ethos of Sixth Form. She is going on to study Education at the University of Gloucestershire after achieving a B in Psychology and Sociology and an A* in Art. 

Amy Hughes’ results allow her to pursue her passion for Entomology at Harper Adams University after achieving a B in Biology and Geography and an A* in Graphics. Alicia Linscott balanced her studies alongside competing internationally in BMX racing. Alicia has successfully secured an apprenticeship as an insurance broker having achieved a C in Graphics and a double distinction in Sport. 

Rose embraced all the opportunities at Sixth Form, including being a House Captain for Centaurus. Achieving B grades in Biology and Maths and a Distinction in Computer Science, Rose goes on to study Biology at the University of Gloucestershire.

Head of School at Teign School Lucie Wagner said: ‘I am so proud of all the students collecting their A Level result today as Teign Sixth Form College is centred around knowing our students really well and ensuring every student is supported. Our Sixth Form students have acted as outstanding role models and hold many leadership positions in the wider school community.’

At Newton Abbot College there were scenes of jubilation as students received their results and confirmed they had achieved what they needed to progress to their future plans for university, apprenticeships and employment. The number of A* and A grades was nearly double last year and all Newton Abbot College students that applied to university got into their first or second place.

‘The students that have collected their results today have been such a delight to work with’, said head of sixth form Natasha Martin. ‘They have been so cheery and positive and alongside their hard work and commitment to their studies they have contributed so much to the wider life of our college, we will miss them and we are very, very proud of them.  We wish them all the very best for what we know will be highly successful futures.’

Among the top achievers at Newton Abbot College were Zingo, who got four A grades and Hannah who got an A, B and Distinction*.

Teignmouth Community School (TCS) celebrated its best set of A Level and Level 3 BTEC results since the pandemic. Staff and students were delighted with the results. ‘We are delighted to see this year a rise in the number of students applying to university to study a wide range of courses,’ commented head of Sixth Form Laura Milsom. ‘We wish all students the very best of luck for the future, they have been a fantastic year group,’ she added.

Headteacher, Rachel Wickham, was full of praise and admiration. ‘Staff and students have worked so hard to reap the rewards that we have seen today – and it was so lovely to the see the smiles, hear the screams of delight and even one or two tears of relief and happiness,’ she said. 

Among the notable results at TCS was Lauren Gomm who achieved a double distinction in Health and Social Care and a distinction in Psychology. She now plans to attend Plymouth University to study nursing.

Ned Carswell from TCS will be taking up a marine engineering apprenticeship with Princess Yachts after an extremely competitive selection process. Ned was pleased to have achieved a double distinction in his sport BTEC and merit in Applied Science. However, he was even more proud to have been selected as just one of 20 apprentices with Princess Yachts, having beaten off competition from 600 applicants.

Newton Abbot College and TCS are part of the Ivy Education Trust. CEO, Katy Quinn, said: ‘We are very pleased for, and very proud of, our sixth form students across the two sixth forms in our Trust.  They have worked so hard and have received the results that they thoroughly deserve.’