As one might expect when it comes to A Levels, the list of highest performing sixth form schools and colleges is dominated by oft-pricey private schools.
However, dotted throughout are an array of excellent, fees-free state schools from across England. They range from selective grammar schools, to faith schools, to university-sponsored colleges - and from only years old to centuries. But each and every one has proven that it can support its young pupils to excel academically, setting them up for success in their future studies and working lives.
We’ve taken a look at some of the best-performing state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges across England, creating a league table based on the most recent performance data currently available (from the 2022/23 school year). They have been ranked by on their A Level performance point score out of 60, a unique measurement derived from their students’ A Level results.
All schools on the list also had an overall Ofsted rating of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ before this measure was dropped last month. This means that the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding were found to either meet or exceed government standards last time the school had a full inspection.
Here were the 25 state schools that topped the chart:
5. The Henrietta Barnett School
Henrietta Barnett is a girls’ secondary grammar school and sixth form in the Barnet borough, North London. It too is a selective school - meaning prospective pupils have to pass a test or meet certain criteria to get in. In the 2022/23 academic year, it had an A Level point score of 50.01 - giving it an average grade of A. | Google
6. St Olave's Grammar School
Formerly known as St Olave's and St Saviour’s, this is an Anglican boys; secondary grammar school in the Greater London town of Orpington - which has a mixed sixth form. As a grammar school, it is selective - meaning prospective pupils have to pass a test or meet certain criteria to get in. In the 2022/23 academic year, it had an A Level point score of 49.95 - giving it an average grade of A. | Google
7. Reading School
This is a boys’ grammar school in Reading, Berkshire. It is selective, meaning prospective pupils have to pass a test or meet certain criteria to get in. In the 2022/23 academic year, it had an A Level point score of 49.61 - giving it an average grade of A. | Google
8. The Tiffin Girls' School
The Tiffin is a girls’ grammar school in Kingston upon Thames, Southwest London. It is selective, meaning prospective pupils have to pass a test or meet certain criteria to get in. In the 2022/23 academic year, it had an A Level point score of 49.05 - giving it an average grade of A. | Google