IT proved to be another successful year for Bury Grammar School pupils with thirteen students achieving all A* and A grades in their A-level results.

Among the top performers was Eryn Reiss, aged 18, who lives in Bury. She will study French and German at Durham University after attaining two A*s and one A grade.

She said: “I had convinced myself that I was only just going to make the offer. When I opened my results, I just felt pure relief.”

She will be joined at the prestigious North East institution by Charlotte Carter, who achieved A*AA, and will now go on to read geography.

Other success stories included the school’s deputy head girl Georgia Willetts, who achieved three A grades, enough for her to follow her passion by reading international business and Spanish at Leeds University.

The boys also experienced success with Max Bridge achieving two A*s and one A grade.

Other high-scoring students included BGS school captain, Joe Edgar, who obtained three A grades, and will now read history at Warwick University; and Harry Sumner, whose A*AA grades were enough to ensure he can fulfil his ambition of studying engineering and architectural design at University College London.

Harry, aged 18, said: “I’m chuffed, I did not think I would get an A in physics. I worked really hard for that.

“I was really worried so it feels really good.”

But A-levels were not the only route to university for students. Eva Harwood, who lives in Ainsworth, achieved a triple distinction star in her BTEC extended diploma in sport.

She has overcome being diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome, a condition that affects the brain’s ability to process visual information, to secure a place at Leeds Beckett University where she will study sports development.

She said: “In my GCSEs I didn’t do very well. I found school very tough and I never really understood why. I would always beat myself up about it.

“I found out recently that I have something called Irlen Syndrome. It’s sort of a perception thing, so when I look at black words on a white page, they all blur and move around.

“These two years doing a BTEC have helped a lot. The BTEC has been so good because it is all practical stuff, rather than exams.

“I wanted to do the best I could, and do myself proud. It’s really nice to open the envelope and see my grade.”

Thirty-four BGS students achieved a string of A*s, As and Bs, with the majority of students set to start their first choice course at universities across the UK.

The school's overall A-level pass rate was 100 per cent.

More than 70 per cent of grades achieved by students at the school were in the top A*-B categories, with more than a third of those being A and A*s.

Many students also took an Extended Project Qualification, with 90 per cent of girls achieving As or A*s.

Principal and headmistress Jo Anderson said: “We are absolutely thrilled for our students and their teachers with this year’s A-level grades which are the result of much hard work and fantastic team work. It is really heart-warming to see them do so brilliantly.

“Our students have shown great diligence and resilience over the last two years but, most importantly, have also really enjoyed their studies and thrived thanks to outstanding relationships with their teachers. I congratulate them wholeheartedly.

“You don’t do well at A-level unless you can think for yourself and I know my colleagues all very much enjoy teaching such sparky young people who question ideas and want to be independent learners.”

Headmaster Devin Cassidy, added: “I am absolutely delighted with the results our students have achieved this year at A-level and I am especially pleased that so many pupils have achieved their first choice university offer.

“There are also many personal triumphs for so many of our students who have achieved better results than they might have dared to imagine were possible. We should also remember that exam results are only part of the education that we provide at Bury Grammar School. That our students leave school as grounded, rounded and intelligent individuals who have the ability to speak to anyone and a desire to go out into the world and make a positive contribution is no accident.

“This is a proud day indeed for Bury Grammar School!”