Leighton Park celebrates increase in top A* grades
Published by Leighton Park School on Monday 17th of August 2026
Leighton Park celebrates another year-on-year increase in top A* grades
Leighton Park families are enjoying excellent A Level results today,
including an impressive 19% of students gaining all A*-A grades. Building
on the outstanding success of our IB Diploma students, our 2026 cohort
were celebrating 66% A*-B grades overall across A Level and equivalent
qualifications (including Distinction* and Distinction in vocational courses
and grades 7 – 5 at IB). 40% of overall grades were A*-A compared with a
national average of 28.5%. A* grades increased to 15% compared with 10%
nationally.
Students were celebrating their first-choice university places, representing
some of the most competitive programmes in the country as well as
prestigious overseas universities. Commenting on students’ university
destinations, Jenny Powlesland, Assistant Head Teaching & Learning and
leader of the Aspiring High Programme, commented: “We are delighted to
celebrate with the students this morning as they receive the results of
their hard work. The exceptionally high proportion of students achieving
their ambitious first-choice university choices, including Oxford, Imperial
College London and multiple competitive destinations such as veterinary
courses and music conservatoires, is testament to their efforts and the
dedicated support they have received from their teachers, as well as the
success of our Aspiring High programme.”
Academic departments enjoyed highly impressive results, with Art (75%),
Further Maths (80%), Geography (81%), Mandarin (100%), Maths (71%) and
Russian (100%) all achieving over 70% A*-B. CTec Sport students
meanwhile achieved 100% A*-A grades.
Luke Walters, Head, commented: ‘These are impressive A Level results to
place beside exceptional IB scores and BTec/CTec grades.
It is testament to the hard work of our staff and students, and to the
compassionate challenge which sits at the heart of the school. Having won
the national award for Future Readiness this year, we will look forward to
seeing our students flourish in a rapidly changing world. The best of luck to
them in the future and hope they will let us know of their further
successes, of which there will be many.
I would like to thank Alex Wallace, our outgoing Deputy Head Academic,
for his tremendous work and dedication to Leighton Park and welcome
Charlotte Wilde, who will lead the school’s academic focus from 1st September.”
The school’s strength in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and
Mathematics has shone through in these results. Antigoni, who will take
up her place to study Natural Sciences at Imperial College London
commented: “I feel like I have grown so much as a person and a student
through my time at Leighton Park - I am really happy with my results and
especially my EPQ because it was definitely a challenging topic to write
about for. I want to thank all of my teachers and my family for their
continued support, and I am looking forward to studying in London!”
Liam achieved 4 A*s to secure his first choice university: “I want to thank
my teachers for inspiring me. I’m looking forward to studying Biomedical
Engineering at UCL and hope to work on making prosthetics responsive to
human control. Jacob’s 3 A*s secure his place to study Biochemistry at the
University of Bath enthused: “The school has been so special to me. It has
been 7 years of my life which have helped me to become more confident
and independent. I would not be the person I am today without this
school. I’m so grateful for everyone who has helped me.”
Cameron’s parents were reflective, following his 3 As helping him to
achieve his place to study Engineering at Loughborough: “He’s had an
amazing time. The school has really nurtured his confidence and helped
him find who he is. I think both my boys are happier, nicer people because
they came to Leighton Park.”
The Leighton Park Music Department was a Finalist for Best Music
Department in the UK for the second year running. This strength was
reflected in Max achieving his 3 A*s to study Music at Oxford, as well as
other students achieving their places at conservatoires across the country.
Lily will study at Art Foundation next year before going on to study English
Literature at Exeter was celebrating her 2 A*s and a B: “I feel like the
support from my teachers during A Levels made a massive impact in my
overall grades and I am so lucky they believed in me throughout my
dyslexia journey. I am very proud to be studying Art and English in future
because of their help.”
Alex Wallace, Deputy Head Academic commented: "We are absolutely
thrilled with the A Level and vocational results today. To have headline
figures verging on 70% is quite exceptional, especially when coupled
alongside our IB average of 35 points. We are also delighted to have seen
an increase in the number of A*-A grades this summer.
This cohort has shown tremendous resilience, focus and talent in achieving
such remarkable results. We are immensely proud of both our students
and staff, and I hope they enjoy celebrating these results- they are much
deserved. We look forward to watching what happens next to the cohort
of 2026, the Changemakers of the future. We will miss them."
Helen Taylor, Director of Sixth Form, commented: “I am so very proud of all
our Upper Sixth students. These fantastic results reflect their hard work, as
well as excellent teaching and the support they have received from
parents and guardians.”
Leighton Park’s success at Key Stage 5 is recognised by the Government’s
most recent analysis 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
have always appeared in the top 100.
Leighton Park has been commended for Co-ed School of the Year 2026 in
the Independent School of the Year Awards and won Senior School of the
Year 2023-24 in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Awards.
If you are considering studying A Levels, CTEC Sport, BTEC in Digital Film &
Video Production or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme,
the next Sixth Form Open Afternoon is on Saturday 26th September, 1.30-3.30m or join our Sixth Form Taster Afternoon on 7th October. To join us, book online at www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park.
