Skipton Girls' High School twins Louise and Charlotte Cobb were not about to let one outdo the other - both achieved five grade As at A-level.

Both were placed in the top five of 4,296 candidates in the country in Geography and Louise also achieved a top five place in Government and Politics out of 2,001 candidates.

They were far from the only Skipton Girls High School pupils who were placed in the top five in the entire country.

Also in the top five nationwide were Victoria Jane Webster (Art and Design - 4,187 entries), Meg Dobson (Drama and Theatre studies - 6,195 entries), Charlotte Rodwell (English Language - 9,727 entries) and Emma Jarosz (General Studies - 27,277).

Thirteen Girls' High students received four grade As or better and three earned five grade As.

Headteacher Janet Renou said she was delighted with the results and the overall pass rate of 97 per cent.

Ermysted's Grammar School pupils and staff celebrated their best ever results.

Excluding general studies, 80.4 per cent of pupils achieved As and Bs.

Headteacher Tom Ashworth said: "Overall we are very pleased, the lads have every right to be pleased and it reflects well on the staff, parents and particularly the boys."

There were celebrations too at Giggleswick School where a record 54 per cent of A level entries were awarded A or B grades.

Of the 10 candidates who achieved three or more straight A grades, six were from the local area, and have won places on some of the most competitive academic courses in the country.

"We are very pleased with this year's results, and congratulate not only the students who achieved the top grades, but also those who achieved grades which reflect the best of their ability," said headmaster Geoffrey Boult.

South Craven's results were the second best ever and deputy head David Birks said: "Eleven subjects have a 100 per cent pass rate. These include both Technology and Engineering which is a splendid start to the school's specialist status, due from September 1.

Settle High School headteacher Trevor Wear congratulated his pupils for their excellent results and hit back at those who said A-levels were too easy.

"I am appalled at the annual round of 'rubbishing' standards that appears in much of the media," he said. "Our students work hard and examinations are far more sophisticated now than they were for previous generations."

Settle had a pass rate of 93 per cent, outstanding given the school's continued policy of allowing even the most borderline of students to attempt examinations," said Mr Wear.