Students across Manchester have been celebrating success after overall A-level pass grades saw another increase with even more students gaining top grades.

The overall pass rate in the city increased to 98.3 per cent, with 23.1 per cent of results at the city’s schools graded at either A* or A.

Councillor Garry Bridges, Assistant Executive Member, Children’s Services, Manchester City Council, said: “This is another great set of results for the city’s schools and builds on the success of previous years.

“It’s clear from the results that Manchester schools mean business in terms of ensuring that young people reach their full potential, and gain the qualifications they need to go on either to higher education or to follow other career pathways that lead to future success.”

Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury has seen significant increases this year at all grade thresholds.

Nearly 28 per cent of all exams taken scored the coveted top grades of A*-A (up 7 per cent on last year’s figure), while 52 per cent of exam entries were graded A*-B (up 9 per cent on last year), and 77 per cent of all exams taken were graded A*-C (up 6 per cent on last year).

The school’s overall pass rate A*-E remained constant at 97 per cent again this year.

Stephanie Burrell achieved one A* and two As in Spanish, German and History and is off to study Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban in London.

Other successful students included identical twins, Chloe and Claire Young, who between them achieved an amazing eight A-levels including seven grade As and one A*.

Other high fliers included Sharin Singh who achieved three A* and one A grade, and also Anna Shahid – who is off to study medicine – and Henry Pickersgill, who each got three A*.

Andy Shakos, headteacher at Parrs Wood High School, said:  “We’re extremely proud of the performance of our students this year.

“Our truly diverse cohort of students has once again produced some excellent results, with significant increases at all grade thresholds, ensuring students have achieved what they need to access a wide variety of university courses and apprenticeships at prestigious institutions.

Whalley Range High School for Girls is also celebrating success with a 14 per cent pass rate at grades A*-A, and 36 per cent of all exams taken at grades A*-B.

The school’s overall pass rate was 98.5 per cent.  The school also had a 100 per cent success rate for vocational qualification exams taken.

Particular successes include Fatima Hussain who got an A* in Maths and two As in biology and chemistry, and Aish Malik, who achieved an A* in psychology, A in law and B in history.

Similar success was achieved by students who chose a vocational rather than A-level route for their post-16 studies – Aasha Abu, managed to achieve near top marks in each of her three subjects, achieving the highest possible grade of distinction* in each exam.

Elizabeth Hole, headteacher at Whalley Range High School for Girls, said: “We’re thrilled with our results this year which are our best ever for both A levels and the vocational qualifications we offer.

“All credit must go to our students for their hard work and determination to succeed, and to our staff for their dedication and support to help students achieve.”