Truro and Penwith College has praised a year of “outstanding achievement,” with its largest ever number of students passing their A-level exams.

The combined college enjoyed a pass rate of 98.5 per cent, nearly one per cent above the national average.

The number of students receiving A* to C passes also rose, to a record 79.7 per cent – well about the national figure of 76.2 per cent.

Economics, English literature, French and geology were among the 29 subjects which achieved a 100 per cent pass rate. Many students were awarded A* grades, with 33 A*s being achieved in mathematics alone. A record 37 students achieved four A or A* grades.

David Walron, Truro and Penwith College principal, praised both students and staff for their shared success.

He said: “This is our biggest ever exam entry for A-levels and the quality of student achievements across both sites remains outstanding. We know how competitive both university entry and the job market are currently, but exceptional results such as these allow students to be in control when deciding what they do and where they go next.

“These young people, and the teaching staff who work in such effective partnership with them, can be immensely proud of what they have achieved.”

The college’s director of quality, Mark Arnold, agreed: “This is another outstanding set of achievements which reflects our determination as a college to maintain our focus on the students and on results by providing high quality teaching and learning.”