STUDENTS from the Wharfedale area, who attend The Grammar School at Leeds, have put the challenges of the last few months behind them to celebrate top A-level results today.

Toluwanise Olusoga from Menston, is “ecstatic” with his two A*s and an A, securing his place at Cardiff University to read medicine. Ailsa Gorman from Bramhope and Frankie Ball from Horsforth both met the terms of their offers to study psychology at university, with A* and two As, and three As respectively.

The potential of Paddy Tonge as an engineer was spotted early in his sixth form career, when he was awarded a prestigious scholarship by Arkwright Engineering Scholarships, part of the Smallpeice Trust. Paddy, from Bramhope, has exceeded his offer for general engineering at Durham University with two A*s and an A.

Other top performers from the area are Toby Fawkes, from Farnley, with three A*s and an A, and Hudson Morgan, from Horsforth, who achieved two A*s and an A. Nicolas Pattinson from Ilkley, gained four A-levels including two A*s and an A, while Dara Madden from Bramhope achieved an A* and two As.

In a year when A-level students across the country have experienced unprecedented challenges, Sue Woodroofe, GSAL Principal, praised the resilience and positivity of this particular generation of school leavers.

She said: “The last few months have been extremely uncertain for everyone. Our students have seen an abrupt end to their schooling and endured months of lockdown, but staff and parents have continued to support them, just as they have continued to support each other.”

In a challenging year, more than a third of students at GSAL achieved the top grades of three As or more, with six students gaining 4 A*s and a further five achieving at least three A*s.

Twenty per cent were passes at A*, 54 per cent of grades were at A*and A, and

79 per cent of grades were at A*-B

Mrs Woodroofe said: “We all know that exam results are only one way of measuring success. In addition to their academic achievements, our young people have grown in courage and this should give them confidence to face the future and whatever it holds.”