KEIGHLEY district A-level students have chalked-up some top-class results.

And following publication of the grades today, many pupils are now preparing to embark on university life.

Beckfoot Oakbank in Keighley said it was "immensely proud" of its students.

Headteacher, David Maxwell, said: "Our fantastic students helped the school achieve even better post-16 results than last year, with the average grade for A-level courses increasing from C to B.

"Not only that, but the average grade achieved in vocational subjects was the highest possible – distinction*."

Eighty-two per cent of year 13 students achieved grades between A* and C.

Five attained the top A* grade, 79 A and 85 B.

Mr Maxwell added: "We are immensely proud of all our students.

"Congratulations to them all on their hard work – and their families which have supported them throughout their school career – and we wish them good luck in their next adventures!"

Senior staff at South Craven School in Cross Hills hailed a "brilliant" set of results in both A-levels and BTECs.

Head of school Martyn Hill said 54 per cent of students gained top grades, and there was a 4.3 per cent rise in the number of pupils achieving the highest grade of A* or distinction*.

Eighteen students gained three As or better at A-level and three distinction* at BTEC or a mixture of the two.

Mr Hill said: "As well as congratulating the top performing students, we want to offer congratulations to all pupils who worked very hard to reach the grades they needed to progress to university, college or employment.

"Two students have successfully gained places at Cambridge University – Rachael Robinson will read natural sciences at Robinson College and Phoebe Robinson will study law at King's College.

"Other students have taken up apprenticeship opportunities, including two with Network Rail and one at a local engineering company, Fives Landis.

"Other career destinations include the RAF and West Yorkshire Police.

"I'd also like to congratulate parents and families who've provided so much support, and would like to thank the staff for all their hard work in making these results possible."

University Academy Keighley saw a sixth successive year of improvement in its A-level results.

The proportion of students achieving grades A*-B in all qualifications has risen to 53 per cent, while the number achieving two or more grades A*-B has more than doubled since 2016 to 54.5 per cent, with an overall student pass rate of 100 per cent at A2 for all subjects.

Principal Bernie Addison and assistant principal (students' aspirations) Stuart Smith congratulated the pupils.

"A positive value-added measure demonstrates that all students have made excellent progress based on their starting points at GCSE," they said.

"We are extremely proud of them all.

"The overall attainment and achievement of our students reinforces the academy's continued commitment to success for all pupils and demonstrates their hard work and determination and the expert teaching and guidance of our staff.

"We congratulate our students on their great results and we're confident that they will continue to succeed on their chosen university courses."