TEENAGERS from across Torridge nervously opened sealed envelopes on Tuesday morning to find out their GCSE results.

Students of Bideford College gathered in the foyer of the new £55 million building to pick up their results.

The school's top performer was Katie Leveridge who gained four A*s and seven As.

She said: "I wasn't expecting to do quite so well so I'm thrilled. I was expecting to get As, but not so many A*s.

She is staying on at the college to study A-levels in physics, English language, history and French.

She said: "The new building was a big factor in staying on here at sixth form. The building is totally amazing."

Nick Hawkins was really pleased with his eight As and two Bs and will also continue studies at the college.

Tom Reader said he expected his eight As, two Bs and a C and had put a lot of hard work into his studies.

He said: "I think my parents will be really pleased and I think the new Bideford College is going to be a really good place to learn."

Beth Weir will also attend the new school after gaining an A*, eight As and a B.

She said: "I was expecting to do fairly well and get Bs, but I put in a lot of hard work as well as managing to keep relaxed and so it paid off."

She will go on to study biology, physical education, geography and maths.

Nicki Dennis was one of the students most pleased with her performance, gaining As, Bs and Cs.

She said: "I'm over the moon I've got the grades to be coming back to Bideford College — I wasn't expecting to do so well.

"Seeing the new building really added to the excitement of coming to pick the results up today."

Other of the high performers included Ruth Martin, Katie Scott, Eloise Black, Saffron Jones and Christopher Colwill.

Principal Veronica Matthews said: "Students have done well and this year's results represent a lot of hard work by students and staff.

"We are analysing the results to see how we can continue to improve.

"As always we have students who are close to grade boundaries in certain subjects and we shall be sending their papers off to be remarked to make sure we give them every chance of getting the grade they so narrowly missed."

Great Torrington School scored its best GCSE results ever — as did Bideford College — beating previous results for the fourth consecutive year.

The High Performing School saw 58% of students achieve five or more A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths.

Provisional results show 68% achieved five A* to C and nearly 90% achieved at least one GCSE graded C or above.

One of the high achievers was Imogen Johns, from Monkleigh, who gained 12 A*s, two As and another A grade in AS-level critical thinking after taking the exams a year early.

A tearful Imogen said she was "blown away" with her results and completely overwhelmed. She will be continuing her education at Petroc studying A-levels in chemistry, biology, maths, further maths and musical theatre and acting studies and one day hopes to go on to study medicine at university.

She said: "I'm just stunned. I put in a lot of work and devoted a lot of time, so it is really nice it paid off."

Proud parents Kieran and Di took the day off from running their business, Cooperative Conservatories, to see Imogen get her results, along with her brother Quinten.

Her dad said: "She has worked so hard and has been fully driven by herself. We don't know who she gets it from, but we're certainly proud."

Di said: "For all these children there is so much pressure at such a tender age, but fortunately for Imogen she seems to thrive under the pressure and her work has been worth it."

Quinten, 15, was also delighted for his sister and said her achievements were brilliant.

Chris Gray picked up six A*s, five As and two Bs from his five years at GTS, which he described as "brilliant".

While Feargus O'Donnell opened his envelope to find results better than he thought, gaining two A*s, six As and two Bs.

He said: "It is going to be sad leaving Torrington, but I am looking forward to going on to study A-levels in maths, physics, geography and product design at Petroc.

Alex Towersey-Veal, 16, from Peters Marland was waiting to find out if he had got into Petroc's academy following his four A*s and six As.

He said the results were not as good as he hoped, but he knew he had gained the grades to study the A-levels he wished and hopefully go on to become an entrepreneur.

Amber Manley, 16, from Torrington was also celebrating seven A*s, four As after what she described as a lot of work. She said her time at GTS had been "absolutely amazing".

Jazmyn Wright was also tearful after gaining six Bs, two As and one C gaining her a place at Petroc. She said she had expected to get Cs and had put a lot of work in.

Jack Ritson, Rory Robinson, Georgie Burgess and Hazel Chesters were among the rest of the school's highest achievers.

Retiring head teacher, Dianne Nicholson, said: "I'm delighted with the performance of these young people. They have worked incredibly hard with the support of their parents and fully deserve their success.

"The staff at the school should also receive recognition for their skill and determination to support every student to achieve their best.

Meanwhile, for the first time ever students from Kingsley School in Bideford picked up their GCSE results, following the merger of Grenville and Edgehill Colleges.

The school had an overall grade A* to C pass rate of 84%, and almost 60% of the grades were A*, A and B.

Seventeen students gained eight or more A*s and As, with Toby Mills setting a school record by gaining 12 A* grades.

Alice Jackson gained nine A*s, and three As, while Ben Ainger, Megan Harty, and Tim Hosgood each gained nine A* grades.

Headmaster Andy Waters said: "The high standard of teaching and the hard work of the students at Kingsley have secured record GCSE results and delivered numerous individual successes that enable students to go on to sixth form study.

"Our staff and students have worked so hard to achieve this level of success, particularly whilst in the midst of our merger, and should feel really proud today."