THE head boy and girl of Ripon Grammar School led from the front in this year's A levels achieving eight top grades between them.
James Donaldson gained four A*s in biology, chemistry, further maths and maths and will now take up his place to read natural sciences at Cambridge University, one of seven students to gain an Oxbridge place.
His co-student leader Donna Castle-Ward achieved two A*s in English and history and two As in geography and maths, enough to read history at Durham University.
Donna said: "I've wanted to go there since I was a little girl, so I'm very happy. I misread one of the questions in my history exam and got a leader's name wrong; I cried in the classroom afterwards because I thought I'd done badly, so to get an A* is unbelievable. I love the subject and had an incredible teacher in Mr Spiers.
It's been a really busy year being head girl as well, but also my favourite year. I was a bit scatty at school sometimes but I really buckled down to my work at home and put a lot of hours into revision and homework. I'm so pleased it paid off."
Their double success was followed by that of 18-year-old twins Emma and Thomas Beaumont, of Sutton Howgrave, who achieved six top grades.
Emma, who gained an A* in art and two As in biology and psychology, plans to read architecture and landscaping at Sheffield University, while brother Thomas achieved two A*s in biology and geography and an A in chemistry and will study veterinary science at Liverpool University.
Emma, who is the eldest by one minute, admitted: "Tom works a lot harder than me!"
Thomas added: "There's a bit of underlying competition between us but we did revise together and work on biology together, but our other subjects are different so we couldn't really help each other."
The school's overall 100 per cent pass rate saw 76.2 per cent of grades being at A*-B, which is nearly five per cent up on last year. Out of 395 A level entries, 77 were A*s and 115 were A grades.
The results ended a week of celebrations at the school after former pupil Jack Laugher collected two medals at the Rio Olympics, including the first ever gold medal in diving. The 21-year-old added a silver in the individual 3m springboard final on Tuesday to the gold he won with partner Chris Mears in the 3m synchronised event last week.
Headmaster Martin Pearman said: "We're delighted with this year's results. It's one of best sets we've had in recent years and I'm very pleased with the five per cent increase in top grades, which helps our students to follow their chosen paths in the future.
"Donna and James have been an excellent head boy and head girl. Their results prove their capacity for hard work since they have combined demanding subjects with their roles as as senior student leaders and ambassadors for the school."
Other notable successes were Florence Hall who gained three A*s in classics, history and religious studies to read history at Oxford University, having joined Ripon Grammar School from another school for the sixth form, and Vicky Frost, who achieved three A*s in art, design technology and English and an A in psychology and will go on to study a foundation degree in art.
Ripon Grammar School is one of only 35 state boarding schools in England and its boarders performed beyond the students' own expectations in some cases.
Friends James Probert, of Middleton Tyas, Josh Finkill, on Masham, James Muscroft-Paylor, of Leeds, and Oliver Pond, of Northallerton, celebrated a string of top grades.
James Probert, who joined the school for sixth form and will take a gap year to work abroad, said: "We're a close knit community in boarding and we help each other. You have to be motivated and have self-discipline but it's great to have so many friends around to call on if you need help."
James Muscroft-Taylor, whose A* in maths, A in chemistry and Bs in physics and further maths are taking him to Sheffield University to study chemical engineering, added: "I don't think I would have done so well if I hadn't been a boarder. It's good to have friends so close by when you're due a break in your revision."