Class of 2024 at IGS breaks new records with 13 Oxbridge offers

And with the UCAS application deadline now closed many more students have received offers to study on courses at universities and for apprenticeships across the country.

Mr Jamie Gutch, Deputy Headteacher at IGS said: "Although students are now focussing on their final exams, it is also an incredibly exciting time for students as they start to receive offers from their chosen destinations. An increasingly large cohort of students is making the decision to apply for Degree Level Apprenticeships which, with highly competitive interview processes and challenging entry requirements, open up hugely valuable and life-changing opportunities for students."

Emma Townsend (Image: IGS)

Although the application window for apprenticeships remains open until after results day in August, several IGS students are currently pursuing exciting degree-level apprenticeships, for example with the BBC. Emma Townsend has received competing offers from Mazars and EY and will be working towards chartered accountancy through her Degree Apprenticeship.

Students who have made successful applications to Conservatoires (Image: IGS)

In the Creative Arts several students have made applications to Conservatoires, and Charlotte Dear has received an offer from the Royal Northern College of Music for the BMus (Hons) specialising in Voice (Soprano). Holly Fox has received offers from Royal Northen, Royal Scottish, and Birmingham for saxophone and Adam Leather has received offers to study drums at the Guildhall and Birmingham.

Thirteen students have received offers to Oxford or Cambridge including Rosie Anderson (Natural Sciences, Cambridge), Josh Beevers (Modern and Medieval Languages, Cambridge), Lucy Bentley (Geography, Oxford), Simon Firth (History, Oxford), Maisie O’Connor (Natural Sciences, Cambridge), Theo Prowse (Biochemistry, Oxford), Beth Rogers (Natural Sciences, Cambridge), Ted Shaw (Geography, Oxford), Josie Simpson (History, Oxford), Leah Turner (Mathematics, Oxford), Holly Vasey (Economics and Management, Oxford), Alex Wood (Physics, Oxford).

Mr Sykes, Associate Assistant Headteacher said: “It is always a privilege to work closely with students supporting them with their applications. This is where all the hard work comes together, bringing them within touching distance of their chosen destinations. It is also wonderful to work alongside such experienced and dedicated staff at IGS as well as with members of the wider Ilkley community who provide opportunities beyond those which the school alone can offer. I would like to say a huge thank you to these people for their time and efforts for our students.”

Starting in Year 12 and throughout the application process, individual Oxbridge preparation at Ilkley Grammar School was complemented by weekly support sessions with live virtual Q+A sessions with visiting speakers and also with alumni who shared their experiences of applying to Oxbridge. Applicants also benefitted greatly from a series of mock interviews offered by local contacts and the school is very grateful to them for their support.

Mr Gutch, Deputy headteacher added: “Alongside the successes there are of course some very talented students who were disappointed this time but who have very bright futures ahead of them. We are very proud of all the students who applied to Oxbridge this year, indeed we are very proud of all our students who are challenging themselves and working towards achieving their personal best this year – wherever that may take them.”

Headteacher, Carly Purnell, said: “We are delighted that IGS students continue to be highly successful in securing coveted Oxbridge offers across a wide range of academic disciplines. The selection procedures for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are one of the most challenging and rigorous in the world and all our applicants deserve to be commended for the academic focus, intellectual curiosity, commitment and hard work they have shown throughout this demanding process. In fields as diverse as modern & medieval languages and natural sciences, our students have demonstrated not only exceptional ability and academic excellence, but also a passion for their subject. They are a huge credit to the school and to all of those who have inspired and supported them.

“I would also like to take the opportunity to offer our huge congratulations to all our year 13 students who are starting to receive offers for a range of exciting opportunities at a wide range of institutions and apprenticeship providers. Students are currently holding offers for Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, King’s College London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Queen’s Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, St. Andrews, UCL, Warwick and York to name just a few. We are excited to see the offers keep rolling in and wish all of our students the very best of luck over the coming months.”

Director of Post 16, Alex Fox, said: "We are delighted with the student’s ambitious choices this year. We work very hard to ensure that every student fulfils their personal best, and it is edifying to see so many students rewarded for their bold applications, diligent perseverance and academic curiosity with offers from the most competitive courses in the country."