THE excellent GCSE and A Level results achieved by students across the area are reflected in the latest performance tables.

Pride of place goes to Ilkley Grammar School who were ranked first out of all Education Bradford School's for their A' Level performance and fourth at GCSE in the 2006 Key Stage 4 and Post 16 Achievement and Attainment Tables published today.

And there were strong placings for Benton Park, Guiseley, Horsforth, Prince Henry's Grammar School and St Mary's RC Comprehensive in the Education Leeds rankings.

Guiseley were fourth at GCSE and sixth at A Level, while St Mary's were fifth and ninth respectively.

Ilkley Grammar School had an average points score of 940.4 per student at A Level while the proportion of pupils getting five Cs - including English and Maths - at GCSE, was 73 per cent.

Head teacher Gillian James said: "We are delighted that we are still doing so well. It's a testament to the hard work of all the students and staff."

St Mary's, meanwhile, was ranked fifth in Leeds for the proportion of pupils getting five GCSE Cs, again with 73 per cent and had the ninth highest points score per student at A Level.

Head teacher Mike Pyle said: "Once again the performance tables indicate another successful year at St Mary's. At GCSE, the 86 per cent of students achieving 5 or above A* to C grades represented the best ever results.

"When including English and mathematics in the total, nearly three quarters of the year group achieved the benchmark which indicates very strong all round performance.

"At A level, the figures did not match last year's record-breaking tally but nevertheless good progress was made by many students, the great majority progressing to the university course of their choice.

"We are delighted that for so many of the numerous performance indicators the trend for St Mary's is upwards, which is expected to continue in future years."

Guiseley School head teacher Paul Morrissey said: "I am delighted with results of Guiseley School's students at Key Stage 4 in 2006 which appear in the performance tables published today.

"To get 74 per cent five or more A* to Cs, including GCSE English and Mathematics, reflect the excellent work of both students and staff at the school.

"These results show that more than seven out of ten of our students have developed literacy and numeracy skills that are good or better and that they are very well prepared to succeed at post-16 level."

Benton Park School, in Rawdon, was ranked third in Leeds for its A Level points score per student and 12th for the proportion of pupils getting five Cs at GCSE.

Head teacher Anne Clarke said: "I am sitting by the phone here smiling. It was our best year ever, 2006, we had a very good crop of results last summer for both GCSEs and A levels.

"It would be nice to fly high every year but although you can have an idea how you will do you can never really tell from one year to the next."

Prince Henry's was ranked tenth in Leeds for the proportion of its students getting five GCSE Cs, and 14th for its A Level points score/ Head teacher John Steel said expectations for this year and 2008 were high following the very successful examination results of last summer.

"At Key Stage three record performances in the English, mathematics and science SATs means the school is one of only a handful that can achieve such consistency.

"Over 86 per cent of students achieved the national benchmark of level five or above in the three core subjects."

The school saw more than 74 per cent of pupils achieving at least five grade A to C at GCSE in all subjects.

Mr Steel said: "It is very difficult to interpret data in raw league tables to reflect the quality of achievement in schools without not only value added measures but also the successes of students in curriculum areas not covered in the limited table information.

"In addition to the standard examinations, students attending vocational courses achieved extremely good results and 73 percent of students were awarded Key Skills certificates in ICT."

Mr Steel added that every year ten student who attempted GCSEs a year early in French and German had passed.

There was also a record four students from the school who obtained Oxbridge university places and four GCSE students achieved marks within the top five in the country.

Horsforth School was ranked 15th in Leeds for the proportion of pupils getting five Cs at GCSE, and 18th for it's a Level points per student score.

Head teacher Steve Jex said: "We are absolutely delighted with performance of our students both at GCSE and at A Level. Interestingly, yet again 50 per cent of our grades at A level were at A or B.

"As always we strive for excellence and are delighted to yet again be one of the largest post 16 providers in the city."