CREDIT: This story was first seen in The Telegraph
Cardiff Sixth Form College has retained its spot at the top of the tree when it comes to A-level performance among independent schools, The Telegraph writes.
The college achieved a 91.4% A-A* rate or equivalent, the only school to surpass 90% when it comes to this measure according to the Independent Schools Council (ISC).
Some independent schools decline release their results in this fashion so it may be possible that there is a better performing school out there. However, Cardiff Sixth Form College is the best among the roughly 300 schools who entered at least 25 candidates and agreed to have their results published.
The Perse School in Cambridge come second in our table with 86.5% A-A* or equivalent, while Westminster School are a close third with 86.4%.
This year’s A-level exam results have revealed that 18.3% of entries from independent schools were awarded an A*.
This rate among the 31,257 candidates at 423 ISC schools is significantly higher than the national A* attainment of 8.3%.
The gap was also seen among those gaining either an A* or A – the top grades – with the proportion of entries from ISC pupils achieving an A* or A grade standing 47.9%, compared to 26.3% nationally.
Barnaby Lenon, chairman of ISC, said: “Once again, pupils at ISC schools have achieved an impressive set of Year 13 exam results, with the headline A* and A figures remaining particularly strong.
“In addition to the success stories coming out of academic powerhouse schools, we’re also seeing fantastic work being carried out by schools specialising in supporting students with SEND and those catering specifically for pupils with behavioural issues, demonstrating ISC schools’ commitment to helping all children thrive.”
While A-levels were still the most common type of qualifications taken, there big increases in candidates taking Extended Project (+40.6%), Pre-U (+56.2%), and BTEC (+20.2%) qualifications this year.
The average points score for pupils taking the IB Diploma was 37, roughly equivalent to 4.5 As at A-level. In the International Baccalaureate, 3.7% of pupils obtained 45 points, the highest mark, which is only achieved by 0.1% of candidates worldwide.
While the school at the top of the table may have remained unchanged, some schools made big improvements in their performance compared to last year.
The Perse School climbed 11 places to finish second but it was the similarly Cambridge-based The Leys School that enjoyed the biggest rankings climb this year, up 120 places to 76th.
Moreton Hall in Oswestry (up 118 places to 91st), St Margaret’s School in Bushey (up 108 to 122nd), Kimbolton School in Huntingdon (up 107 to 67th) and Streatham and Clapham High School GDST (up 106 places to 110th) all also climbed in excess of 100 places in this year’s ranking.
At the other end of the spectrum Yarm School fell by most in this year’s table, down by 126 places to 200th on the list.
Find the full league table on The Telegraph
The table covers A-levels in addition to the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Cambridge Pre-U. Results in the IB and Pre-U are converted into A-level equivalents.
Higher level 7 and 6 at IB and Distinction 1, 2, 3 and Merit 1 at Pre-U are equivalent to A* and A at A-level.
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