Private schools’ A-level grades fall

Gap between independent and state students narrows as fewer achieve top marks in exams, figures show

Camilla Turner, Harry Yorke

Luke Mintz

THE exam results gap between state schools and private schools is narrowing, figures show.

There has been a steady decline in the number of children educated in the independent sector winning top grades at A-levels since 2010, when the A* mark was introduced.

The proportion of private school students achieving A* and A has decreased by 4.1 percentage points over the past seven years, from 52 per cent to 47.9 per cent, according to data released by the Independent Schools Council (ISC). Meanwhile, the proportion of all students winning top grades has only gone down by 0.7 percentage points. Ralph Palmer, Lord Lucas, editor in chief of the Good Schools Guide, said there was “no doubt” that the gap between the state and independent sectors is narrowing, when it comes to those scoring the highest grades at A-level.

“This is consistent with a trend we have seen emerging over recent years and one which the country should celebrate,” he said.

“Some state schools have tightened their approach to discipline and many are now timetabling longer school days, both of which would no doubt have positive effects on exam results.”

Lord Lucas, a hereditary peer, said that over the coming years the independent sector is likely to shift its marketing efforts away from what exam results children will achieve, and towards what qualities they can build if they come to a private school.

“I think that over time the emphasis will move on from mere A-level grades to setting up children for the world,” he said. “Are they equipped for the world? Are they equipped to succeed?” He said that schools will seek to prove that they can teach children life skills such as confidence and resilience.

“If you are a private school and your results difference [to local state schools] wasn’t that marvellous where would you push your marketing?”

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, said that the decline in A grades at private schools was driven by new schools joining the organisation which are not academically selective.

“The proportion of independent schools getting A*s is still more than twice the national average,” said Mr Lenon, who is a former headmaster of Harrow School.

“The reason the proportion has fallen very slightly is every year we take a number of new schools into membership which get slightly less good exam results, and this has a slightly depressing effect. The ones that get outstanding results have been members of the ISC for many years.”

Lord Lucas said the figures do not signal any major problems for private

‘Over time the emphasis will move more on to setting children up for the world’

vate schools, which are still recording “superb” A-level results.

He said: “We are certainly not seeing the demise of independent education – far from it.

“Independent schools are still viewed by many parents as the best route to a top university and career. But, nevertheless, the gap has narrowed and for that we should all be grateful.”

Some of Britain’s leading independent schools are switching to the tougher grading system for GCSES amid fears that universities will favour students with grade 9s over the A*.

The reformed GCSES, which were introduced by the Government in 2015 in a bid to combat grade inflation, have been implemented at all state secondaries and several private schools.

On Thursday, the first cohort of 16-year-olds taking the exams received their results with grades numbering 1-9 in three core subjects. All subjects are due to undergo transition to the new system by 2020.