Ilkley Grammar School celebrates post-16 results
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Ilkley Grammar School students celebrate another year of excellent results following today’s publication of A-level, AS and other Level 3 qualifications.
Ilkley Grammar School’s Class of 2026 have performed extremely well again this year, securing a fantastic set of outcomes both at A-level and in a range of Level 3 BTEC courses. The vast majority of students have secured places at their chosen university, on apprenticeships or in employment.
With 33% of all A-Level grades at A/A* again this year, IGS students continue to perform highly, exceeding national standards (the percentage of grades in England at A*/A in 2026 is 28%). Indeed, with 62% of all A-level grades at A*-B (England 56%), alongside an overall pass rate of 99% (England 98%) the Class of 2026 have maintained the consistently strong outcomes which have been secured by IGS students since 2019 (pre-Covid) with students this year achieving an average of a B grade in their best three subjects at A-level.
The cohort of students completing Level 3 BTEC qualifications also secured a range of excellent results this year with students on these courses securing an average grade of a Distinction(-).
There were also some exceptional individual performances across the whole cohort including Daniil Ilchenko (Further Maths A*, Maths A*, Russian A*, and Physics A*), Emelyn McCann (French A*, Further Maths A*, Maths A* and Physics A*) and Alex Wolfenden (Maths A*, Further Maths A*, Chemistry A* and Economics A*) who each achieved an astounding 4 A* grades at A-level.
A special mention must go to Daniil who arrived in the UK four years ago from Ukraine. Having secured straight A* grades in all 4 subjects, Daniil is now heading to University of Sheffield to study Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering.
Twelve students also secured at least three A* grades/Distinction* in their A-Level/Level 3 courses including: Daisy Button; David Dawe Martins; Sam Gazeley; Alfred Griffiths; Phoebe Harker; Will McCutcheon; Daanial Mirzapour; Orla Murray; Jasper Russell; Rosie Stidworthy; Finley Wilkinson and Harriet Williams.
A further 37 students secured A*/A (straight As/Distinction or above) in all their A-level/BTEC level 3 subjects including: Hannah Allison; Sophie Armstrong; Ellie Ballard; Alfie Barker; Edward Barker; George Bayne; Pippa Bentley; Anna Breen; Charlie Collinge; Taida Czwaczka; Kate Devane; Matthew Disney; Xanthe Gutch; Benjamin Hammond; Gracie Haynes; Evan Higham; Lara Hinchliffe; Amelie Hunt; Matilda Irvine; Bryony Jackson; Soha Kiani; Barnaby Killan; Benji Kirk; Mia Leighton; Jemima McDonald; Harry Miles; Isabel Nelson; Jemima Overend; Joel Rand; Abdullah Shah; Jack Shuttleworth; Joseph Spotto; Lola Summerson; Amy Tierney; Benedict Vevers; Zara Whittaker and Freddie Young.
IGS students have therefore secured places on courses from Primary Education to PPE and as diverse as Genetics; Aerospace Engineering; Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychology; Filmmaking; Law; Physiotherapy; History and Construction Management to name just a few. The destinations range from Exeter to St. Andrews and from UCL to Belfast and beyond.
This year another 8 students have met their offers for Oxford or Cambridge. Congratulations go to: Charlie Collinge (History, Worcester College, Oxford); Matthew Disney (English, Robinson College, Cambridge); Poppy Dyson (English Language & Literature, St John’s College, Oxford); Amelie Hunt (Archaeology, Downing College, Cambridge); Orla Murray, (Modern & Medieval Languages, Fitzwilliam, Cambridge); Rosie Stidworthy (Veterinary Medicine, Selwyn College, Cambridge); Harriet Williams (Engineering, Trinity College, Cambridge) and Alex Wolfenden (Economics, Churchill College, Cambridge).
In addition, 8 students have secured the grades to study dentistry, medicine or veterinary science at university including: Daisy Button (Medicine, Manchester); Phoebe Harker (Medicine and Surgery, Newcastle); Matilda Irvine (Medicine, Nottingham); Saud Khayer (Medicine, Exeter); Soha Kiani (Dental Surgery, Leeds); Jemima Overend (Dentistry, Newcastle); Grace Roy (Veterinary Medicine, Nottingham) and Zara Whittaker (Medicine, Exeter).
Students have also accepted places on a number of high-profile, competitive apprenticeships including Darcie Clegg who has secured a degree level apprenticeship to become a BSc Chartered Manager with Morrisons and the University of Bradford, Harry Burrows who has secured a degree level apprenticeship in Law with Blacks Solicitors LLP in Leeds and Hannah Cressey who will be starting a level 7 tax apprenticeship with KPMG.
With Bradford celebrating its position as the national city of culture last year, students are also celebrating creative industry places including: Martha Kelly (Fashion Design, Manchester Met); Kessia Hadfield-Walker and Tilda Davies-Downes (Musical Theatre at Laine Theatre Arts); Amelia McLoughlin (Concept Art & Experience Design at Escape Studios London); Ed Shelley (Music Technology, Sussex University; Jackson Kelly (Product Design, University of Northumbria) and Rosemarie Berrisford who has a place at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Furthermore, Isaac Critchley is to become an Emergency Health Advisor with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Will Kenneth has secured a place at Sandhurst and Luke Jones will be going to Aviation Academy at Leeds Bradford Airport.
Some students have also set their sights further afield, for example Corey Canning has secured a scholarship for golf at Chowan University in North Carolina and Esmé Parsons will be studying Fashion Business at LIM in New York.
Carly Purnell, Headteacher stated, “Today is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of an exceptional group of young people. These results reflect not only academic success, but also the determination, commitment and hard work our students have shown throughout their time at Ilkley Grammar School. As a school, we are incredibly proud of what this cohort has achieved together, while also recognising and celebrating the many remarkable individual successes that sit behind today's results.
Whether they are progressing to university, apprenticeships, employment, training or other exciting opportunities in the UK and overseas, they leave us with our very best wishes and every confidence in their future success. It has been a privilege to watch them grow into capable, thoughtful and ambitious young adults.
I would again like to thank our dedicated post-16 staff and the families who have supported and encouraged our students every step of the way. Today belongs to our students, and they should take great pride in all they have achieved. We look forward to following their future successes and celebrating with them again at our Presentation Evening in January.”
Alex Fox, Assistant Headteacher, Director of Post-16 added, “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege working with this special group of young people this year. Their exam attainment and progress are exemplary, reflecting the diligence, resilience and responsibility they have shown since day one of Post-16. On behalf of the post-16 team, we wish them all the best for the future and hope they become part of our vibrant alumni community.”
