A-level results day in pictures: Students across the Harrogate District celebrate exam success

The Associated Sixth Form of St Aidan’s and St John Fisher praised students on their “exceptional” A-level results.

Early indications show that the 2025 results have the highest value-added score (progress) the Associated Sixth Form has ever achieved. Nearly a third of all grades gained were A*or A and more than 76 per cent of grades were C or better.

There were some very strong individual performances, with several students achieving all A*, A or Distinction* grades.

Many students secured places at top universities, prestigious apprenticeships and other career pathways.

Head teacher of St Aidan’s, Siân Dover, said: “We are absolutely thrilled at the results our students have achieved, and we could not be more pleased for them all.

“These results are a testament to the dedication and determination of our students, who have worked incredibly hard. Their success is richly deserved.

“Whether our students are heading to university, apprenticeships or employment, they leave our Associated Sixth Form equipped with the skills, values and confidence to thrive. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Head teacher of St John Fisher, Steve Mort, said: “We are so proud of all of our students and staff, and they thoroughly deserve this wonderful set of results.

“These young people have worked so hard, and we want to congratulate each and every one of them.

“I want to thank our exceptional teaching and support staff, whose commitment and care have guided our students every step of the way.

“This is a day of celebration not just for individual achievements, but for the strength of our Associated Sixth Form community.”

Harrogate Ladies’ College (Duchy College) pupils are celebrating the strongest set of A-level results since 2019.

Eighty-five per cent of all results were A*-C grades, which is the highest percentage since prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the number of A* grades doubled compared to the previous year, and nearly half of all pupils achieved at least one A* or A grade.

Principal Joanna Fox said: “We take immense pride in nurturing our pupils as individuals, sharing in their success and seeing them follow their dreams in a broad range of subjects.

“Our pupils have achieved outstanding A-level results, which is testament to their determination, hard work and resilience.

“A-levels are a uniquely challenging experience and I am very proud of each and every pupil for reaching this important milestone in their academic journey.

“This has been a momentous year for our school, having announced our move to a fully co-educational school and the change of our name to Duchy College.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible teachers who are unwavering in their commitment to the pupils and who have played a major role in today’s successes.”

Student Eleanor Shenderey, who achieved three A* grades and a B, is now going on to study art history and history at Edinburgh University.

“I am over the moon with my A-level results,” she said.

“Three A*s is a dream come true, and I am so grateful to my teachers who have supported me every step of the way.”

Erinn Baskind achieved two A* grades and an A and will study fashion photography next year.

“I am absolutely thrilled to achieve a clean sweep of A grades,” she said.

“Studying fashion photography has been my dream, and these results mean I am able to follow that dream.”

Pupils at Ashville College, Harrogate, have been praised as the school celebrated its “best ever” A-level results for another successive year.

A record 43 per cent of all grades achieved were A* to A, and 92 per cent of pupils gained a place at their first choice destination.

Ed Hall will study history at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, after gaining top results in his A-level subjects alongside distinctions in his Cambridge Technical Performing Arts qualification.

Giles Hutchinson has been awarded an organ scholarship to study music at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Rhys Wolf, one of Ashville’s heads of school, will be studying economics at the University of Warwick after achieving three A*s, placing him within the top two per cent of candidates nationally.

He said: “The Ashville community has shaped me into the person I am today.

“As I prepare to leave Ashville, I know it will remain with me – the friendships, the memories and the person it’s helped me become.”

The other head of school, Tara Lane, secured two A*s and an A. She will be heading off to the University of Bristol to read biology.

Tara said: “All the hard work has paid off.

“I have to thank all my teachers for their constant support during the lead up to my exams and through all my time here. I couldn’t have made it without them.”

Jacob Wells will take up a flagship degree apprenticeship with Ernst & Young after achieving three A* grades.

Musical highlights include William Johnson gaining a coveted place at The Royal Northern College of Music to study vocal studies and opera, while Gabriella Salvin will be continuing to develop her skills by studying musical theatre at Leeds Conservatoire.

Sporting excellence has also been recognised, with a tennis scholarship at Menlo College, Southern California, awarded to George Burgin, while swimmer Jacob Brown has achieved a place at the prestigious Loughborough University.

Head of Ashville, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said: “This set of stand-out results is unprecedented and consolidates a progressive upward trend that has built momentum over the past few years.

“They also highlight the advantages of the ‘new’ Ashville where established co-education within a nurturing environment, in a growing and flourishing school, maximises opportunities for all.

“On behalf of everyone in the Ashville family, we send our heartfelt congratulations to all our upper sixth pupils on their outstanding achievements and the launchpad these give them for their future success.”

Harrogate Grammar is celebrating the school’s best A-level exam results since 2018.

A third of grades were A*-A – an increase on last year – and 26 students achieved four As or above.

More than 83 per cent of applicants have gained places at their first choice university, with four students going on to study at Oxford or Cambridge.

Head teacher Neil Renton said: “Layered behind every grade is a unique and sometimes complex story for every student.

“These fantastic outcomes, therefore, are the product of years of effort, perseverance and belief – not just from the students, but from the families and teachers who have supported students at every step.

“This is a group who learned resilience before they even set foot in the exam hall, and that character will serve them well in whatever comes next. We are proud not only of what they have achieved, but of who they have become.”

Director of sixth form, Ben Twitchin, added: “I have been inspired by the way this cohort have supported each other through the highs and lows.

“They have shown that success and excellence comes from working hard, being kind and staying focused on your goals.

“Today’s results open doors, but it’s their determination and teamwork that I am proud of, and this will lead to even more success in the future.”

There were lots of happy faces at Ripon Grammar as students achieved some of the best results in the school’s history.

This year’s cohort saw 81.1 per cent of grades awarded at A*-B and 52.5 per cent per cent of all grades at A*/A.

Talented basketball player Hattie Miles, 18, achieved A*s in maths and chemistry and an A in physics. She will now study materials science at Oxford University.

She will be following in the footsteps of her 20-year-old sister, Nora, who will be starting her third year, studying French and Russian at the university.

“I’m really excited to be joining her,” said Hattie.

The teenager, from Hampsthwaite, juggled her studies with playing for Yorkshire and the North of England in the Junior National League.

Isabelle Whitehead has won a place to study medicine after being inspired by the doctors and nurses who looked after her disabled brother.

Isabelle, from Carthorpe near Ripon, balanced her studies with being a devoted young carer at home for her 12-year-old brother, Toby, who suffers from Dravet syndrome, a rare and severely disabling form of epilepsy, alongside autism.

The 18-year-old, who achieved A grades in chemistry and geography and a B in biology, will study medicine at the University of Liverpool.

She said: “Toby is the reason I want to do medicine. I have grown up seeing the positive effects that doctors and medical professionals have had on his condition.”

Tom Deniz, currently Britain’s number one ranked U18 judo star, was delighted to gain A*s in maths and further maths and As in physics and chemistry to win a place at Durham University.

The 18-year-old combined his gruelling training schedule with the England Judo squad with his A-level studies, while also playing rugby and swimming.

“Travelling across many countries throughout Europe to compete for my country has meant I’ve had less time to focus on my studies, so I needed to work extra hard on my time management,” he said.

His ambitions now are to continue to represent Great Britain over the coming years at major international events, alongside his university studies.

Talented musician Will Bellaries, 18, from Sawley, achieved A*s in maths, further maths, physics and music and will now go on to study maths at Durham University.

He plays multiple instruments including viola with the Harrogate Symphony and North Yorkshire Youth orchestras, and has won awards at a number of music festivals including the Harrogate Competitive Music Festival and the Ripon Young Musician of the Year Competition.

Beatrice Pickles-Mercer combined her passion for golf with her academic studies, earning two A*s in biology and French and an A in chemistry.

She has secured a place to study medicine at Scotland’s world-famous University of St Andrews, renowned as the home of golf.

Picking up her results the day before her 18th birthday, she said: “Golf has been a very demanding sport for me during A-levels and my time in sixth form.

“I had to cut down a large amount of the time I would spend at the practice ground and I was unable to enter any competitions.

“However, I was able to keep telling myself that all this hard work would pay off because I will be able to play golf alongside my studies at university since St Andrews is the home of golf.”

Kayleigh Yarker was delighted to achieve an A in her A-level art.

The 18-year-old, from Ripon, who has been learning Japanese alongside her A-levels, is now setting up her own online art store and plans to travel to Japan in her gap year before taking up her place to study production design for stage and screen at the Northern School of Art.

Kayleigh, who overcome several family bereavements during her studies, was overjoyed to receive a recent commission from her favourite comedian, John Robertson.

Tassy Bell, a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, triumphed over loss to achieve the top A-level grades she needed to win a place at Cambridge University, where she will study theology.

Tassy struggled with the death of her grandad in October, during her crucial final exam year, but despite this she achieved an A* in religious education and three As in politics, chemistry and German.

Among the other top performers were Elizabeth Bordewich and Henry Simpson, who achieved a clean sweep of four A* grades, and Leena Athab, who achieved three A*s and one A grade and will take up her place to study maths at University College London.

Headmaster Jonathan Webb said the class of 2025 had been an incredibly hard-working and motivated year group, achieving the second best grade A*-B results in the school’s history.

“We are very proud of our students who have worked extremely hard, demonstrating a real passion for their learning,” he said.

“These results are also a testament the dedication of our staff and the support of parents and carers.

“My congratulations to all the students on another very successful year.

“Results are never an end in themselves but merely act as the necessary passport to the next destination and we are confident our students will go on to achieve great things in the next stage of their lives.”

The principal at Queen Ethelburga’s praised the “hard work, enthusiasm and commitment of the entire school community” as students celebrated “outstanding” A-level and BTEC results.

This year saw 77 per cent of students achieving A*-A grades and 91 per cent securing A*-B grades.

Students have been awarded a variety of esteemed first choice university places.

Daniel Machin, principal of Queen Ethelburga’s, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students.

“This year’s cohort has included a huge number of students who have been with us since prep school, along with more recent starters who have made a fantastic contribution to school life.

“These results reflect their efforts to make the most of all of the opportunities available to them.

“Thank you to our dedicated teachers and the support of our QE parents and families, without whom none of this would have been possible.”

There were also celebrations at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL), where 62 per cent of A-levels were awarded top A* and A grades.

A total of 190 students achieved top grades of three As or more. Twelve pupils achieved A*s in all of their subjects

Seven students secured places at Oxbridge to study subjects including engineering, law, classics and medicine.

Top swimmer Kourosh, of Wetherby, achieved two A* grades and an A in his A-levels in biology, chemistry and maths, plus an A in his EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and secured a place to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

He has represented Team GB in the European Youth Olympics Festival and competed in the Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships 2025. A long-time member of the City of Leeds Swimming Club, he plans to continue swimming competitively while at university.

Sue Woodroofe, principal at GSAL, said: “These are outstanding results for the school, some of the best in our history.

“Our Year 13s are an incredibly talented cohort who have achieved so much, both in the classroom and beyond. They’ve led by example and inspired younger pupils with their positivity and determination.

“Today is a special moment to celebrate their journey and to thank the families and staff who have been part of it. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Coun Annabel Wilkinson, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, said: “Huge congratulations to the students across North Yorkshire who have received their A-level and equivalent exam results today. I am incredibly proud of you all.

“We have high aspirations for every child and young person in North Yorkshire and by achieving these exceptional grades and qualifications, local students can look forward to the future, whether that is a university place, further education, an apprenticeship, training or employment.

“Thank you to all our teaching and school colleagues from across the county for their commitment and support in helping our young people towards success. The results are also a testament to them.”

Sir Stuart Carlton, corporate director for children and young people’s services, said: “I would like to congratulate students on their achievements and thank our dedicated teachers for all the help and guidance they have provided to ensure that each child has the best possible education, no matter the circumstances.

“Our priority remains that all young people leave school or college with the best qualifications they can achieve and the life skills they need to thrive into adulthood.

“I hope that these hard-earned qualifications will enable them to take the next stage of their journey, whether that’s work, further or higher education or other opportunities and I wish them the very best in their future.”

Nationally, top A-level results have risen this year, with 28.3 per cent of grades marked at A* or A. This is an increase from 27.8 per cent in 2024.

UCAS has reported that a record number of students have secured a place at their first choice university.