PUPILS have smashed previous GCSE exam results in many South Devon schools, breaking last year's records.

Students filled school halls, canteens and hallways anxiously clutching their results as schools celebrated some of their best results ever.

Among those with the most to cheer was Deejay De'Ath, a profoundly deaf pupil from Newton Abbot, who studies at Westlands School in Torquay.

Deejay gained eight GCSEs grade A to C.

His teachers hailed it a 'stunning achievement' and testament to the hard work done by the school's dedicated hearing support unit.

At Torquay Boys' Grammar School 14-year-old Adrian Wong chalked-up 11A* grades in another record-breaking year for the school.

Headteachers at the Bay's other schools, including St Cuthbert Mayne, Churston Ferrers, King Edward VI Community College and the community colleges in Brixham, Torquay and Paignton all sung the praises of staff and students.

Students at Paignton Community and Sports College gained the school's best ever GCSE results.

The college saw a seven per cent increase in the number of students achieving five or more A* to C grades.

Principal Jane English said: "These are an excellent set of results — all credit must go to the hard work of both students and staff."

Westlands School said it had 'built on the success of last year' with its best ever value added score, indicating how much progress children had made since joining.

In total 65 per cent of pupils gained five or more GCSEs at the higher grades and 35 per cent gained 10 or more at A to C.

Cathy Gilfillan, headteacher at St Cuthbert Mayne, said: "This year's results are great. Congratulations are due to the students, their teachers and parents. There are many commendable results, given students' abilities and personal circumstances."

Notable successes were Matthew Hewson with nine A* and one A, Octavia Gale-Cooper and Christopher Birks each with seven A* grades.

Gill Battye, principal at Torquay Community College, said: "I am delighted with this year's GCSE results. It has been a tremendous achievement. The results have shown a further 12 per cent increase this year overall for higher grades, showing the continued progress and success at Torquay Community College.

"Congratulations go to all the students, staff, parents and governors for their hard work."

The best performing in terms of results were once again the local grammar schools.

Torquay Boys and its neighbour Torquay Girls both achieved high standards.

There were 143 candidates at Torquay Boys' Grammar School and they scored an unprecedented 99.2 per cent pass rate with an average of 10.8 passes each.

Headmaster Roy Pike congratulated boys and staff on all their hard work and success.

At Torquay Girls' Grammar School 100 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades, including English and maths, and the girls bettered last year's results with 59 per cent of marks reaching A* to A grades.

Bob Owers, head at Churston Ferrers Grammar School, reported 21 students achieving 10 A* and A grades with a 100 per cent pass rate for higher grades.

"It has been five years of hard work, and the pupils have deserved their reward," he said.

Russell Western, from Westlands School, spoke for many when he collected his five GCSEs.

"It's a relief to get it over with and I'm happy with the results. It's something I don't have to think about for a while but I guess it will all start again when I come back to the sixth form."

In Totnes King Edward VI Community College students clocked up a 69 per cent pass rate of five A* to C grades including English and maths — as good as the college has ever done.

In Brixham the college recorded its best results ever with a 51 per cent pass rate within the same benchmark.

In Dartmouth the youngsters walked away with a 35 per cent pass rate — well up on last year.

Dartmouth's head teacher Chris Long said that 75 pupils took GCSE exams this year and the 35 per cent A* to C, including English and maths, pass rate was up on last year's 33 per cent.

He said it exceeded the school targets set by the Government and added: "We just keep on getting better."

The school's head boy Zachary Povey from Kingswear earned his position by coming away with four A*s, four As and B while fellow pupils Summer Grieve-Knight, from Torquay, has won herself a place at a London stage school after clocking up her A* in drama.

GCSE results at South Dartmoor Community College reached an all-time high this year with 60.2 per cent of students achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths and 75.3 per cent gaining five A* to C grades overall.

Students and staff at Newton Abbot College also celebrated record GCSE results for the second year running with 60 per cent of students achieving five or more A* to C grades.

Principal Gareth Davies said: "I am absolutely delighted that students' hard work has paid off with these great results.

"It is all the more pleasing as this year group was academically much weaker than in previous years, yet they have hit 60 per cent, which is a first for the college."

Teignmouth Community College principal Tony Gray described the results for this year's 180 youngsters as 'outstanding'.

Over 70 per cent of them gained at least five passes at grade C or above.

Coombesheaed College also celebrated 'an excellent set' of exam results.

Fifty three per cent of the students achieved at least five A* to C grades and the majority of subjects achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.