A-LEVEL results day brought out the best and brilliant in Bradford, including an inspirational student who transformed personal grief into success and pupils who are heading off to Oxford.
It was a momentous occasion across the country as every region of England saw a year-on-year increase in the proportion of A-Level entries awarded A and above.
All regions also saw a higher proportion of entries awarded A* or A this year than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
The figures for West Yorkshire show students in the county achieved their best haul of A* or A grades in six years, if the years when the country was in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, between 2020 and 2022, are discounted.
Results in 2020 and 2021 were based on teacher assessments instead of exams.
There were plenty of happy students at Bradford Grammar School (BGS), sharing their joyous moments with family and friends alike.
Its students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate and one in five grades awarded were A*.
One of those celebrating their results was 18-year-old Oliver Tuggey, who got straight As in Maths, Economics, Physics, and Computer Science.
Oliver demonstrated a commitment to making a meaningful difference during his A-Levels and last year he became a lifesaving stem cell donor through charity Anthony Nolan.
His uncle, Jonathan Tuggey, who tragically passed away from leukaemia at the age of 13 was present in his mind throughout the process.
He also suffered tragedy at just two years old, when his mother, Amanda, died from cancer.
Oliver, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ilkley said on donating stem cells: "It wasn’t until I spoke with the follow-up team after the donation that the reality of what I had done truly sank in.
"Realising that my actions could save someone’s life was an indescribable feeling."
The sporty teen, who played First XV rugby at BGS, now turns his attention to the Great North Run, where he is hoping to raise £2,000 alongside his friends for the Sue Ryder charity, which supported his mother.
Oliver: "The Great North Run is my way of honouring my mum’s memory and giving back to a charity that supported her.
"Everything I do is driven by the desire to make both my parents proud."
He will now go on to study Philosophy and Economics at Manchester University and aspires to work in public service or law, motivated by a desire to contribute positively to society.
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, Headmaster at Bradford Grammar School, said: "Oliver’s achievements are a profound testament to his character and dedication.
"His academic success is remarkable, but it’s his extraordinary commitment to helping others that truly sets him apart.”
A trio of athletics stars proved successful off, as well as on, the field after achieving outstanding grades.
Team GB runners, Rebecca Flaherty and Amelie Lane, and triathlete, Ben Hill, who is a member of the Yorkshire Triathlon Academy, all got either A* or As in their subjects.
Rebecca, of Menston, managed straight A*s in four subjects, while Amelie, of Ilkley and Ben, of Horsforth both earned two A*s and an A.
BGS dubbed a group of students who achieved four A*s each, which included Rebecca, and one pupil who achieved three A*s and two As after taking a self-taught extra A-Level, 'The Magnificent Seven'.
These were: Vivek Chaudhuri, Tom Threlfall, Pollyanna Greene-Wright, Jonty Ali, Marvellous Adenuga, and Elsa Foster.
Meanwhile, three students at Immanuel College have got into Oxford after a bumper year for A-Level results at the school.
Overall, nearly one-quarter of all grades were at A* or A – a significant increase on the previous year – while 75 per cent of grades were A* to C and there was a 100 per cent pass rate across all subjects.
Lewis Firth is one of those heading to one of the world’s most prestigious universities, after achieving A* grades in Maths, Further Maths, and Physics.
He will study Maths at Oxford.
Shipley College had its first cohort of Esports students receiving their results this year.
Boris, who achieved D*D*D*, is moving to university to study Games Design, while Shayne and Umar are both heading into the army - Umar got a triple pass while Shayne got a distinction and two merits.
There was plenty of success at Belle Vue Girls’ Academy as well.
The academy, part of the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, celebrated 43 per cent of its students’ grades being A*, A, or B.
In addition, 83 per cent of Applied Vocational grades were either Distinction*, Distinction, or Merit.
Two students, Kashaf Nawaz and Reeva Iqbal, will go on to study medicine at university after receiving their results.
Reeva completed her secondary education in Pakistan before joining Belle Vue Sixth Form in 2022.
She is passionate about medicine and helping people and will now go on to fulfil her long-held ambition at Lancaster University after achieving an A* and two As.
Kashaf undertook extensive work experience while in Sixth Form and will study at York University following her grades of three A*s.
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