China course beckons for A* pupil

Now the Bradford Grammar School pupil is preparing to jet out to China to study the language for a year in Beijing before setting her sights on getting a place in Oxford or Cambridge when she returns.

The 18-year-old from Ilkley, picked up four of the new A*s in maths, chemistry, French and Spanish yesterday after flying back into the country from New Zealand where she had been representing the school on a three-week netball tour.

Her successes both in and outside the classroom had already led to her being chosen as the school's head girl.

Now she is preparing to take part in a year's study at the Beijing Language and Cultural University.

She said: "I am really looking forward to experiencing a completely different culture. I have studied Mandarin for two years, but look forward to developing this further in China."

Another Yorkshire student who is heading east after yesterday's results is Esther Elliott, from the Mount School, in York.

She is taking a gap year which will include six months in Nepal teaching, working in a hospital and doing church work.

She will then study theology at Exeter University in 2011, after achieving an A in history, an A in religious studies and B in English Literature.