AFTER achieving record A-level results last week, Ilkley Grammar School did the double by chalking up its best GCSE results to date.

Despite changes to the national performance measures and the expected volatility in the GCSEs this year, the school on Cowpasture Road achieved 82% A* to C grades including English and Maths, significantly up on 2013.

A third of entries were at the top A*/A grades (33 per cent). High performers included Toby Cowell and Deborah Henney with 9A* grades, and Isobel Hirst, Matthew Thomas and Ben Haigh with 8A*.

Progress measures in English and Mathematics were also significantly above the national average at 89 per cent and 84 per cent respectively.

Headteacher, Gillian James, was full of praise for her students and staff.

She said: "Changes to exams nationally have made this an even more challenging year, but our students have risen magnificently to that challenge to see us achieve our best ever set of GCSE results.

"They have worked hard for that success, as have our staff. We never forget that education is about much more than exams, but they do still matter and it’s been lovely to celebrate such outstanding results."