Superb 'A' level results were announced in schools and colleges throughout South East Cornwall yesterday, with the overall pass rate being in excess of 90 per cent in most cases.

There were some outstanding individual achievements – or in one case a dual effort. Twins Christopher and Martin White of Liskeard School and Community College, who live in the town, gained five A grades each and will be reading natural sciences at Cambridge University. Neil Hoskin, Lucy Howdle and Robert Mattholie earned themselves four As, and Natalie Lewis - who celebrated her l8th birthday on results day - Mathew Eames, Daniel Onions and James Ross had three As each. At Liskeard 14 students achieved two or more A grades, and a further 21 achieved one grade A.

'High quality in depth,' was the comment of head teacher at Liskeard, Alan Sedgely. 'The results from a large, able, year group are outstandingly good.

'The A level pass rate is 93.2 per cent, which is very good, but the proportion of entries achieving grades A or B is 45 per cent, a remarkably high figure. Thirty-three students achieved a top grade A in at least one subject.'

Callington Community School and College notched up its best ever results - with a staggering 96 per cent overall pass rate. Staff were in buoyant mood yesterday morning, with head teacher, Steve Kenning, saying it had been a very good year group. Reasonable results had been expected, but the staff were exceptionally pleased with the high standards reached.

He said the average points score of those taking three or more A levels was 21.25 (10 points are given to an A grade, 8 (B), 6(C), 4 (D), 2 (E)). A total of 65 per cent of the grades achieved were A-C and 15 per cent were As. Two students received four A grades, these being Jeremy Cruse and Emily Curtis-Rouse. Mr Kenning said high standards had been achieved in all subjects, but in Biology 50 per cent of students had received A grades, which was outstanding - and Art, French and home economics were among other subjects with memorable results.

At advanced level GNVQ the pass rate was 88 per cent, with 44 per cent of students being awarded distinctions. Subjects studied to this level range from business studies, and tourism and travel, to health and art and design.

Saltash community school traditionally notches up excellent 'A' level results, with this year no exception. The overall pass rate was 94 per cent, and the average points score 20.08. Head teacher, Janet Morris, said she was very pleased with her students' achievements and described them as 'very good results'. The majority of students had been awarded the grades wanted for their selected university places. Sciences and mathematics were among the many subjects in which the results were really high.

Students Ruth Nelson and Andrew Williams were rejoicing - with four As and one B each, while Matthew Waters and Adam Jay achieved three As and two Bs each. Staff had to overcome a computer breakdown on Thursday morning in their bid to ensure that the results were distributed speedily, and any pupils with queries about university places were seen. The strike by lecturers in some universities did not seem to have affected the students' bid to check their places were safe, in the case of a lower grade than hoped-for.

At Torpoint school students in the new sixth form are only one year through their two year A level studies, although a few results of courses have been received - the sixth form's first ever.