A-LEVEL grades are up for the fourth year running according to delighted staff at Ilfracombe Arts College.

And among the shining stars are Ed Russell and Peter Brown, who between them, chalked up four A* grades and three As.

Ed took the top spot with three A* grades in maths, further maths and physics and an A in history.

Asked if he was pleased, he said with a grin: "I could hardly be unhappy with that!"

Ed is planning to go on to do a maths degree at St Andrews, while Peter is planning to study journalism in Kent after getting an A* in history and As in English language and maths.

Other high flyers included Alex Williamson, Rebecca Goode and Hayley Insley, who all achieved 2 As and a B.

The school scored a four per cent rise in the A-C pass rate, which is this year at 61 per cent.

And the overall pass rate on A-E grades stands at 91 per cent with all students gaining at least one or more passes from the exams they sat.

Assistant head Judith Larrington said: "This shows our highest achieving students are continuing to improve their grades and reach their potential at A-level, having benefited from the small class sizes and expert teaching offered in the sixth form.

"This year the vast majority of those students applying to university gained a place, and are going on to study subjects including art, media, psychology, sport and engineering at a range of universities up and down the country."

She added: "We are proud of all our students, some of whom have overcome huge challenges to achieve these pleasing results, including Igor Vasylenko who joined us from the Ukraine, and has achieved six A-level passes, even though English is his second language."

Mrs Larrington said she was pleased with the way the students had met the challenges of the new syllabus and said the school was expecting an increase in sixth form numbers from September, where the common room had been refurbished and a new dedicated computer room added for private study.

"We are happy to chat to anyone who would like to join the sixth form in September and candidates should contact Mrs Chris Swailes at the school."