WHARFEDALE students at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) have stars in their eyes after opening their GCSE results this morning.

Four students who achieved ten A* grades apiece have performed at the highest level in their studies as well as excelling in their chosen fields outside the classroom.

Tilly Woodward from Menston is a talented dancer who trains and performs with Phoenix Youth Academy in Leeds and Wright Theatre Arts Dance Academy in Ilkley. Tilly will be studying French, Spanish, maths and chemistry in sixth form, and said: “Whilst I’d love to dance as a career I think it’s important to get my A-levels first so I’ve chosen the subjects I enjoy and are my strongest.”

Talented musician Gemma Timmons from Ilkley has Grade 8 distinction in singing and piano and is now working towards her diploma in both. Another musical pupil, Felicity Greenfield from Bramhope, plays the flute and piano as well as enjoying cheerleading. Sporty Tess Fawkes from Farnley reached the national schools finals with GSAL’s U16 hockey team this year, as well as enjoying cross country and playing piano.

Other Wharfedale students with a string of top grades are Emily Boggs from Weston and Jireh Chiu from Yeadon with nine A*s and an A, while Amelia Dawson-Kavanagh from Rawdon and Hannah Gorman from Bramhope have eight A*s and two As. Also achieving a clean sweep of A*s and As were Phoebe Barber from Burley in Wharfedale, Francesca Fearnley from Burley Woodhead and Lucca Singh from Bramhope.

Tess, Felicity, Gemma and Tilly are among thirteen students at GSAL who scooped 10 A* passes at GCSE. With 203 students picking up their results at GSAL today, more than two-thirds of passes achieved (68 per cent) were at A*-A, with nearly a third of all students notching up 10 GCSEs at these grades.

In a number of subjects, over 70 per cent of pupils achieved A*-A including in mathematics, music, geography, religious studies, Latin, Greek, Spanish, art and design, textiles, food technology and the double science award.

Principal Mike Gibbons said: “We are extremely proud of our students who have pulled off excellent results. We are particularly pleased to have increased the percentage of A*-A grades this year.”