COMMUNITY schools and colleges across South East Cornwall opened their doors to welcome back hundreds of students as they arrived to collect their A-level results.

It was time for celebrations and shouts of relief and joy for many, as the culmination of two years of hard study was rewarded with some top results from all four sixth forms in Liskeard, Callington, Saltash and Torpoint.

They were also thrilled when the national results revealed that they had nearly all achieved above the overall national pass rate for A*-E, which rose this year by 0.1 per cent to 98.1 per cent.

At Liskeard School and Community College, Callington Community College and saltash.net community school the pass rate was 99 per cent, and at Torpoint Community School, which in the past has had a 100 per cent pass rate, it was 98 per cent, just 0.1 per cent below the national percentage.

The top South East Cornwall result came from Callington Community College student Qinglin Li, who achieved three A*s in mathematics, further mathematics and advanced further mathematics, two As in physics and Mandarin, plus an A in AS level chemistry.

Andrew Wallis, Cornwall council's cabinet member for children and young people said that the achievements were a tribute to the hard work and commitment of students, schools and colleges, and to the support from parents and carers.

'This is a very important day for all these young people and I would like to congratulate everyone,' he said. 'I am delighted that, once again, many young people in Cornwall have done so well.'