Above and beyond: Leighton Park’s A*-B grades exceed pre-pandemic achievements

Leighton Park School’s Sixth Formers were celebrating this morning as the top A Level grades for A*-B reached 57%, 2% above the 2019 pre-Covid levels.

Matthew Judd, Head, commented: “Set against the context of the national picture where the results are back to pre-pandemic level we are delighted that our grades have continued to improve. One of the things that thrills me is the diversity of course that our students are proceeding to, everything from Fashion to Pure Maths. I have got a keen sense that students here have chosen courses because they want to be a force for good and I look forward to seeing them carrying the values of the school forwards. As ever on results day it is wonderful to see so many happy faces.”

Jenny Powlesland, Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning), was equally jubilant: “It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate with so many students the culmination of their efforts and resilience over the last two years.”

Harry McNeill was overjoyed with his A*AA and an A for his EPQ which secure his place to read History and Politics at Warwick University in the Autumn. “I felt quite stressed yesterday and I knew the marking was going to be harder but I’m pretty happy today!” he grinned. Matthew Wheeler (3As and A EPQ) concurred, “I’m very happy for sure. The grade boundaries were higher of course so I was a bit nervous; it really hit me last night. I’m glad it’s over now and that I know I’ve got into Bristol to do Economics and Finance.”

Both Harry and Matthew joined Leighton Park in the Sixth Form and are enthusiastic about the experience. “It was a challenge adjusting to A Level but it was quicker to settle in than I expected; it’s very friendly and the staff are really supportive.” explained Matthew.

Dan McDermott’s mother, Sarah, was also pleased that she chose Leighton Park for her son’s Sixth Form education as his grades see him bound for London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a degree in Production Arts. “The difference has been phenomenal. He has had so many opportunities here and he’s completely changed direction because of his experiences. Which he’d never have got elsewhere; I’m so, so pleased.”

Creativity from the Arts shines through in the Music Department too with four students taking up places at the UK’s highly competitive Music Conservatoires.

Other students are embracing the freedom of a gap year with Connie Say headed to South Africa to work on her Field Guides Association of Southern Africa qualification over two camps followed by a spot on the New York Times Internship programme; one of only 25 offered worldwide! Connie is still deciding between English or History for her university application, two of the School’s highest scoring subjects with with A*-B grades of 83% for English Literature (83%) and 78% for History (78%). Other top scoring subjects include DT (100%), Business (79%) and Economics (72%) at A*-B.

In addition to offering the BTEC Level 3 courses in Music Production and in Digital Film & Video Production, the School also offers a CTEC course in Sport for which students achieved 100% Distinction or above today.

Leighton Park’s success at Key Stage 5 is recognized by the Government’s league tables for Sixth Form Academic Progress. The latest figures show Leighton Park to be the top performing school in Berkshire and 27th in England for academic progress, one of only eight schools nationally to appear in the top 100 every year since the league tables began. Leighton Park was also a Finalist in the prestigious Times Educational Supplement (TES) Awards for Independent Senior School of the Year 2023.

If you are considering studying A Levels, CTEC Sport, BTEC in Digital Music Production, Film & TV Production or Music or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the next Sixth Form Open Evening at Leighton Park School is on Tuesday 10th October at 6.30pm and our Annual Open Morning for all entry points is on Saturday 23rd September from 9.00-11.00am. Book online at www.leightonpark.com/imagine-better or contact Admissions via admissions@leightonpark.com or 0118 987 9608.