HUNDREDS of pupils have been celebrating their GCSE results this week, with a number scoring straight As and A*s.

The exam scores were collected at schools by anxious teenagers on Tuesday morning.

At Park Community School in Barnstaple, headteacher David Atton said the top 20 academic high-flyers secured a total of 206 of the top A*/A grades — an average of more than 10 each.

Mr Atton said: "This is a day for the students and their families.

"Our strength as a school is the focus upon every student achieving his or her very best.

"It is those individual outcomes for each that really matters rather than the generalised overall pass rates for a year group of 286.

"Our early analysis confirms personal bests for the highly academic and for those right across the spectrum whose strengths are more broadly based.

"Good GCSE results are vital to realising future educational and employment opportunities, but need to be placed within the broader context of all that each individual student has also achieved in developing the essential qualities and insights essential to securing a full and happy life, ready to tackle whatever challenges the future may present."

Liam Knights said: "I'm a really ambitious person, I'd really like to become an author. I want to be the next J.K. Rowling."

Izzy Braidwood said: "I was really nervous about picking up my results but I'm really happy because I got the results I needed to do my A-Levels. I did better than I expected."

Lewis Vanstone, 16, said: "My brother Ian helped me out a lot with my homework and through my revision and stuff so I owe some of it to him I guess!"

Edward Pearce, 16, said: "I'm extremely pleased that all of the hard work I have put in has paid off. Overall I'd say I had a pleasant school experience. It was a lot of fun mixed with a lot of hard work."

Mr Atton said: "I'm very happy with this year's results. We achieved the highest average percentage we've ever seen so I'm thoroughly pleased.

"It is not just about results, it's about equipping these young people with essential life skills. Everybody has worked very hard."

Young scholars from Pilton Community College maintained another set of good results in their GCSE exams.

Principal Mark Jubysaid this year's pass rate placed the school in the top 25 per cent of the country.

Mr Juby said he was particularly pleased with the school's maths results.

He said one in five students got an A or an A* which were the school's "best ever" results.

One student happy with her result was Chelsea Willsfrom Barnstaple.

She wore her good luck necklace when picking up her results because she was so nervous. She said: " I got one A, five Bs, three Cs and one E.

"I just did not expect that at all, especially the A which I got in art. It is such a nice feeling to achieve it."

Olivia Roberts from Goodleigh also gained three A*s, four As, two Bs and a C, which has given her a place at West Buckland School to study biology, chemistry, English and maths.

Two friends screaming with joy were Katrina Stevenson and Amie Hardy, both from Barnstaple. Among Katrina's results, she obtained two As in art and English language.

She said: "I am honestly so, so happy. I cannot wait to tell everyone."

Amie got two Bs in English language and literature but said she was expecting Ds or Es.

She said: "I was crying when I opened them. I just am so happy — I'm actually going to be a person. I worked so hard for this."

Mr Juby said: "It is good to see so many students with A* and A grades.

"We are particularly proud of a group of students who got more than ten A* and A grades, including Catherine Brown, Flora Blower, Amelia Gayton, Georgina Slee, Adam Boon and William Seymour."

Meanwhile, students and teachers were celebrating at South Molton Community College on Tuesday after the school received its best results on record.

Principal Jenny Gloversaid: "The staff, parents and pupils are thrilled at this year's GCSE results, which are the best results they have ever had. This is a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved.

"It is totally due to the dedication, commitment and hard work of staff and pupils together with the support of their parents and carers."

Mrs Glover also said the year group arrived at the school with below average SATs results, making the achievement more impressive.

One student particularly pleased with his efforts was Sam Kingdom, who gained 100 per cent mark in his maths exam.

His teacher Sheila Wyersaid she set him the challenge after he obtained 100 per cent marks in two year ten modules.

She said: "I am absolutely thrilled to bits for him. It really does not happen very often, especially in maths. He thoroughly deserves it."

Rebecca Gibson, from East Anstey, said she was also excited to open her envelope to three A*s and six As.

She said: "I am so surprised. Some of these results, I just did not expect at all. It is amazing."

Amy Bradley, from Bishops Nympton, was another star pupil who attained ten A*s and one A.

She said: "I cried when I opened my results. I was predicted a few A*s, but not all of these. It is a shock."

She is now going to Petroc to study biology, chemistry, English and law.

Josh Fields from Bishop Nympton was also thrilled with his five A*s and three As, which he said were unexpected.

And Emma Saunders, who is intending to go to Petroc in September, was also ecstatic after passing all 12 of her exams, despite only expecting to pass five.

She said: "I feel so happy. I really worked hard to get these and it is such a nice feeling to know it has paid off."

Mrs Glover also made particular mention of Leo Wheelan, who gained four A*s and five As.

And this year's results at West Buckland School once again gave students cause for celebration.

Students Diana Webber and Cecilia Karlsson were also awarded a flawless set of A* grades.

Headmaster John Vick said: "Congratulations to this fine group of students. They have worked very hard indeed to achieve these excellent results and are now well placed to continue to their success at A level.

"This is a superb effort by these young people, and extremely rewarding for their teachers as well."

Students who passed with ten or more A and A* grades were: Alice Lancaster, Bethany Milburn, Rebecca Moore, Seb Moran and Sarah-Jane Turner.

Those who achieved nine or more A and A* were: Fiona Baker, Zak Barouh, James Bayliss, Harry Booker, Alicia Browne, Mercedes Cooling, Ana Fernadez, Jordan Hussell, Katie May, Peter Reader and Anastasia Sergeeva.

At Chulmleigh Community College, they were equally pleased.

Chulmleigh principal Mike Johnson said: "These results are a triumph. To be honest, the college has exceeded its targets.

"We have achieved superb raw results and have added very significant value to the predictions made of these young people as a result of their performance in the primary schools.

"We have achieved the two golden goals all schools set. Students have exceeded the high expectations we set them.

"Our young people and their parents should feel very proud of themselves. They have worked hard for this. Teachers and support staff have worked their socks off. I feel really proud to work alongside them.

"This is a symptom of a well understood code of conduct, the very high quality teaching, a 'can do' ethos. Great news after the heavy disappointment we feel about the delay and review regarding the buildings we have been promised."

The overall percentage of pupils achieving at least five GCSES at grades between A* and C varied among schools.

At Park Community School in Barnstaple, 62% of pupils got at least five A* to C grades and 44% got at least five A* to C grades including English and Maths.

At Pilton Community College, 51% of pupils attained at least five grades between A* and C including maths and English.

At Chulmleigh Community College, 68% of pupils achieved at least five grades A* to C including maths and English and 98% got at least five A* to G grades.

At South Molton Community College, 70% of pupils got at least five A* to C grades and 56% got at least five A* to C grades including maths and English.

At West Buckland School, 52% of pupils passed all their GCSEs with A* or A grades and 96.2% of pupils got at least five GCSEs with grades between A* and C.