Ottery St Mary A-level students at The King s School continue to excel as results are released.

A-LEVEL students at The King's School continue to excel as a long, nerve wracking summer wait ended in jubilation for many yesterday.

Years of hard work came to fruition for this year's sixth form crop as they outdid 2007s "best ever" results.

Over 50 per cent of grades attained were at A or B level with ten students achieving straight As. The school's average total points score and average point score per student has risen for the fourth year running.

Headmaster Faith Jarrett said: "These are absolutely stunning results. For ten per cent of our cohort to achieve straight A's is pretty amazing. But it's just as important if someone gets three Ds if that's what they need for university. As a teacher you are quite grateful to everyone who has put the hard work in. Those who have worked really, really hard have been justly rewarded."

There was double delight for twins Catherine and Samantha Wilkinson, 18, who both achieved straight A grades, and both say some healthy sibling rivalry pushed them on to their achievements.

Catherine, who will head off to study the University of Central Lancashire to study fashion and brand promotion in the autumn, said: "I'm over the moon, We have only ever spent four days apart from one another so going our separate ways will be strange. There was definitely some friendly competition, when one of us was revising the other one would feel guilty if they weren't." She also re-took a philosophy AS-level after a B grade last summer left her trailing Samantha in A grade stakes. Parity was restored between the pair as she bagged an A this time around to match her perfect A-level results.

Samantha will study geography at Manchester University. She said: "This is my stress over for the summer. We are going to celebrate in style."

Nathan Spango, 18, netted the grades he needed for a place at Exeter University studying radiography and paid tribute to his teachers. He said: "A lot of work and dedication has gone into today and my teachers have helped immensely, I wouldn't have got this far without them."

Richard Gerry, in his second year as King's head of sixth form, said: "I'm very proud and happy. Students have exceeded themselves not just in the grades but also in achieving places at university. These are really positive results, building on the success of previous years.