ONE of North Yorkshire’s leading state schools is opening its doors to more children.

Ripon Grammar School, whose record A-level results this summer took it to the top of the county leader board, has 13 new places for students currently in Year Eight, including four boarding places.

Successful candidates will be able to join the school this September, in Year Nine and must pass a test to qualify for a place.

Testing will take place on February 8 and the closing date for applications is January 10.

Ripon Grammar School was graded as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted last year.

Significant investment has been put into new and upgraded sixth-form, sports, music, classroom and boarding facilities recently, with more improvements to come.

Work is due to start next Easter on a new humanities building with dedicated classrooms for history, religious studies and modern foreign languages.

Headmaster Martin Pearman said: “This is a further opportunity for prospective students to put themselves forward for a place at Ripon Grammar School.

“We welcome applications for both boarding and day places from families with children currently in Year 8 who are interested in joining us in September.”

The school is also holding a sixth-form open evening on January 27 at 6.30pm.

For more information, visit ripongrammar.co.uk, email admin@ripongrammar.co.uk or phone 01765-602647