ISC Independent schools candidates achieve top exam results

One in fourteen ISC independent school candidates were awarded three A* grades or equivalent; a total of 2,607 pupils or 7% of pupils, whilst 19% of entries at ISC independent schools achieved an A* grade, compared to 8% nationally.

Half (49.3%) of all entries at A-level at ISC independent schools achieved A* or A grade - nearly double the national figure.

A high proportion of pupils at independent schools in the North achieved the A* grade, bucking national trends that show students in the North performed significantly worse in the top grades compared to those in the South East.

ISC also found that there are now over 3,200 pupils taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and there has been an increase in the number of pupils taking Pre-U and the International Baccalaureate (IB) this year.

Julie Robinson, ISC General Secretary said: “These results reflect the hard work and dedication of pupils and the exceptional level of teaching and support in independent schools. ISC includes a wide range of schools, both selective and non-selective and all provide young people with a bespoke education.

“Alongside a strong set of A-level results, schools continue to value their freedom to choose alternative qualifications, including the IB, Pre-U and the Extended Project Qualification.”

Barnaby Lenon, ISC Chairman, added: “Independent schools can be very proud of their pupils’ excellent exam results, with half of their A-levels being graded A* or A, nearly double the national figure. What is remarkable is the number of candidates achieving three or more A* grades, one in fourteen pupils.

“Independent schools continue to be strong across the country, with many schools in the North achieving the top grades,  when national figures show that schools in the North are performing significantly worse than those in the South East.

“A high proportion of the independent schools A-levels are in the traditional subjects such as Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Modern Foreign Languages, some of which are in decline nationally. Many top university departments offering these subjects are dependent on independent school pupils for the quality of applicants they seek.” 

Year 13 Exam Results 2015 Summary

In the week following the publication of the Year 13 exam results, data was collected from 499 Independent Schools Council schools covering a total of 37,155 candidates. This is based on the first provisional data and is subject to change due to appeals and remarks. Visit http://www.isc.co.uk/researchfor more details.