. (This is a pdf file and will open in a new window.)

See a picture gallery of A-level Results Day

The A* grade was introduced this year to stretch the brightest students and help universities differentiate between the best candidates. To get one, students had to score an A overall, plus at least 90% in each paper in the second year of the course.

Withington's overall pass rate was 100 per cent ; 84.3% of papers were awarded A* or A grades compared with 27% nationally and 96.9% received A*, A or B grades.

Over 25% of the School's A-level candidates took maths or science subjects and Withington's consistent record of success in Classics and Modern Languages reflects a very academic curriculum.

Among the top achievers were Alexandra Abelidis from Didsbury who scored A* grades in Biology, Maths, Spanish and General Studies. She is off to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford to study Modern Languages and hopes to "have a taste" of an American Ivy League College.

Tara Livesey, from Lymm, was awarded A* grades in Chemistry, French, Maths and Further Maths and is heading for Hertford College Oxford to read Economics and Management. Laura Burt from Great Budworth, Cheshire, achieved A* grades in Biology, Chemistry, History and General Studies plus an A grade in French – and is going to study Law and French at Christchurch College, Oxford.

Jesseca Manville from Salford, Neha Passi from Mottram St Andrew but currently in New York, Claudia Tishbi from Hale and Dana Walshaw of Whitefield also achieved four A* grades.