(Image: Bradford Grammar School)
A Bradford Grammar School student has achieved one of the highest marks in the country for GCSE Art.
Alice Midgley, a 16-year-old from Skipton, also secured a grade 9 in biology alongside six grade 8s and a second grade 9.
She will begin A levels in biology, chemistry, and economics at Bradford Grammar School Sixth Form in September.
Ms Midgley said: "I’m very pleased with my results, especially after getting a nine in both Biology and Art.
"I’m happy the hard work paid off, and I’m excited to start Sixth Form in September."
In addition to her academic achievements, Ms Midgley competes in hockey at national level, training with the Talent Academy and playing regularly for Ben Rhydding.
Earlier this year, she represented England at the Six Nations tournament, where the team finished third overall.
She said one of her proudest moments was the team’s 2–0 victory over the Netherlands, describing it as particularly memorable because it was the first time her age group had beaten the Dutch team in a decade.
Ms Midgley said: "They went on to win the tournament, so it was a really special result for us and made it even more memorable."
She now hopes to continue representing England and play for a Premier Division team while at university, where she also plans to pursue a career in medicine.
Balancing her sporting commitments with her GCSE studies required careful time management.
She added: "With weekends, particularly Saturdays, often spent playing for Ben Rhydding, I quickly learned the importance of managing my workload during the week.
"At first this was challenging, but over time it became much more manageable."
Ms Midgley credits Bradford Grammar School’s Athletic Development Programme (ADP), led by Ben Nabozny, for supporting both her academic and athletic growth.
The programme is delivered through the school’s Performance Gym and includes specialist strength and conditioning coaching.
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, head of Bradford Grammar School, said: "For Alice to have achieved such an exceptional result in Art, alongside strong results across her GCSEs, while also maintaining a high level of commitment to hockey, takes real dedication and organisation.
"She’s a great role model for younger students because she has shown that it’s possible to pursue your ambitions outside the classroom while still giving your studies the time and attention they deserve."
Ms Midgley hopes her experience can offer guidance to younger students balancing academics and sport.