ILKLEY Grammar School takes great pride in celebrating the outstanding results achieved by its students following today’s publication of GCSE, BTEC and other vocational and technical qualifications.

In what has been a challenging two years for students preparing for their GCSE and vocational qualifications, they have risen to the challenges and have achieved stellar results which is testament to their hard work, focus and determination.

Celebrating improvements in all grade thresholds this year compared to the pre-pandemic 2019 results, Ilkley Grammar School are seeing record numbers of students with 5 or more grades 9-5 (79%) and over 68% of students with 5 or more grade 5s and above, including English and maths. The class of 2022 also hit a record for the school with the highest ever percentage of students with 5 or more grade 4s and above, including maths and English (87%). Alongside these excellent results, an impressive 49% of all GCSE grades were at the highest grades 9-7 (national 26%). In a comprehensive year group of 285 students, this year’s students have also achieved an average grade in excess of a grade 6, in line with the Centre Assessed and Teacher Assessed grades in 2020 and 2021. This is a remarkable achievement, showing just how resilient IGS students have been in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Students also experienced great success in BTEC and other vocational/ technical qualifications including Travel and Tourism, Engineering, Health and Social Care and Digital IT, with an extraordinary 44% of students overall securing starred distinction or distinction grades and over half of BTEC/VTQ entries at a merit or above (equivalent to a very strong pass at GCSE).

There were many exceptional individual performances, with almost 30% of GCSE entries at grade 8 or 9, almost a 5% increase from IGS’s pre-pandemic results in 2019 and double the percentage of 8-9 grades nationally. Students Emily Jowett, Maisie O’Connor, Leah Turner and Alexander Wood, achieved a staggering 10 grade 9s across the board. A further 4 students achieved 9 grade 9s: Erin Doyle, Beth Rogers, Emma Docherty and Esther Killan.

IGS is also celebrating the success of a large number of students who have made exceptional academic progress since joining IGS. Though there are far too many names to mention, students include but are not limited to: Alice Auger, Ben Ballard, Archie Foster, Tilly Hollins, Jasper Horn, Medwyn Irwin-Valentine, Gilbert Muirhead, Zara Nawaz, Matthew Rodriguez, Ted Shaw, Summer Smith, Frazey Welsh, Grace Widdup and Harriett Wright.

Carly Purnell, Headteacher of Ilkley Grammar School said: “It has been a turbulent time for students across the country; they have faced considerable uncertainty about exams, experienced two extended periods of school closure, adapted to remote learning, and there have been four national grading standards in as many years. I am delighted with how our students have responded and how well they have achieved in their examinations.

“There are some spectacular individual results where students of all abilities, including those with additional needs, have exceeded their challenging targets across a range of subjects to achieve their academic Personal Best. This is a reflection of their outstanding levels of effort and determination, as well as the high-quality teaching they have received and the support, care and encouragement at school and within families. I am extremely proud of our remarkable students and thank our dedicated staff who give their expertise, support and care to help students realise their potential, ensure their successful progression to the next stage education and/or training and raise standards even further.

“It has been a real privilege to be with so many students this morning as they have celebrated their exceptional results in a wide range of subject areas including technology, the creative arts, science, humanities, business, languages, computing and PE, as well as core subjects, demonstrating their talents and the breadth of the curriculum on offer at IGS. Well done and congratulations year 11!”

Gemma Claughton, Deputy Headteacher: Quality of Education, added: “This year’s outstanding results are testament to the hard-work, perseverance and noticeable resilience of this year’s year 11 cohort who should be rightly proud of every grade that they have earned amid challenging conditions and changing circumstances. It is important to remember that exam board markers marked in exactly the same way as previous years, so every grade is truly earned. Looking back over the past 2 years, our students have prepared themselves extraordinarily well by setting goals, aiming high and persevering. They are all exceptional and talented young people and deserve every success.

“Well done year 11! Each and every one of you has shown true courage and we couldn’t be prouder of your achievements! We are already looking forward to celebrating individual results with staff, students and parents/ carers at the Year 11 Prize Presentation Evening in November.”

The school now looks forward to welcoming continued high numbers of students into Post-16, including those transferring from other providers.