OUTSTANDING Bradford Grammar School students from Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale have achieved above and beyond expectations this year in their A Levels.

Ben Longfield, 18, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, gained an impressive three A*s and an A and will go on to study Chemistry at Jesus College, University of Oxford. A member of Ilkley Tennis Club, Ben plays the trumpet and piano and has performed ‘The Last Post’ at the School’s commemorations of former pupils who fell in the Great War. He was recently awarded the Edward Clarkson Upper Sixth Chemistry Prize at school.

Ben said: “I’m ecstatic! I didn’t want to be overconfident but I hoped the hard work would pay off and it really did.”

Keen rower Ben Wood, 18, also of Burley-in-Wharfedale, was awarded the Old Bradfordians’ Upper Sixth Mathematics with Mechanics Prize at Speech Day and will go on to study Aeronautical Engineering at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, after receiving his inspiring three A*s, two As and one B grade.

Ben said: “It doesn’t quite feel real. I’m just so pleased and relieved and can’t wait to go onto further study.”

Will Robson, 18, of Ilkley, gained an impressive two A*s and three As. A member of the Combined Cadet Force, talented rower, and guitar player, Will goes onto study Physics at Durham University.

Will said: “I’m so happy with my results, it hasn't sunk in. I’m absolutely elated, it's an exciting and daunting prospect. I'm very grateful to all of the constant and incredible support from the School, friends and family". His mother Stephanie said that she was, “really proud,” of her son’s achievement, while father Neil said that he was, “over the moon, the culmination of a lot of hard work that has paid off”.

Kate Robertshaw, of Ilkley, scored an impressive three A*s and an A and will go on to study Classics at Cambridge. She felt ‘happy and relieved’ on seeing her results. Kate’s mum, Victoria, was over the moon: “I’m so emotional that she’s realised her dream. I never made it to Cambridge so I can’t describe how elated I am that Kate has achieved this for herself.”

Seventeen per cent of all exams were awarded at Bradford Grammar School this year were A* and 54 per cent A*/A grades.

Headmaster, Simon Hinchliffe, said: “I’m delighted to congratulate our students on some outstanding results this year; with a 100 per cent pass rate, our results remain exceptionally strong. This is great news for BGS and the wider educational scene in Bradford.

“The shared endeavour of students, working with the support of their families and staff has sustained our first class record in A Level exams enabling the vast majority of our Year 13 leavers to achieve a place at their first choice university”.

Dr Hinchliffe continued: “Beyond the headlines, we are celebrating the many individual accomplishments that represent a personal success for those students who did themselves justice at all levels of achievement. A life-enhancing education is open to all at BGS with many exciting opportunities outside the classroom in the arts, sport, community projects and various clubs and societies. We care about the whole person at BGS; outstanding exam results deserve to be celebrated, but they are just one part of a much bigger picture.”

BGS, which counts Olympic medallists and Team GB members among its prestigious alumni, is undergoing a £4m investment in its sports provision. The redevelopment will include major upgrades of its cricket, netball, tennis and hockey facilities. The school is expecting to see the works completed by February next year and has already benefited from an enhanced sports curriculum, which has seen the introduction of boys’ hockey and girls’ cricket.

Former pupils of the independent school on Keighley Road, Bradford, include Olympic heroes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, artist David Hockney, Denis Healey and actress Georgie Henley.