RETIRING headteacher Gillian James welcomed another year of success for her final set of A-level students at Ilkley Grammar School.

Mrs James, who leaves this month after 12 years as head of the successful Ilkley school, which gained academy status in 2011.

The school on Cowpasture Road again recorded record results, with a 99.6 per cent pass rate, 13.85 per cent A* and 39% A*/A grades.

Ilkley Grammar says 86 per cent of students hit the A* to C mark, and there were outstanding performances from a whole range of students.

Notable successes include Abi Birch with 4A* grades, Emma Horton and George Ransome with 3 A*s and 1 A, and Ben Fripp, Henry McLachlan, Helen Robinson and Daniel Saveski, all with 3A*.

Mrs James said: "These are my last set of A level results as I head into my retirement and students and staff have done me proud. I know how hard students work and how much time staff put in above and beyond lessons, so it is very special when the final outcomes are as good as this.

"Everyone deserves big congratulations."

The school said many students secured their preferred university, including those who had applied for medicine, and George Ransome is going on to read maths at Cambridge.