Year 11 exam results 2018: Nearly two thirds of entries achieve A / 7 or higher, three times the national average

This year’s Year 11 exam results data, collected from 549 schools (representing 37,913 candidates), reveal:

• 62.6% of entries were awarded an A/7 or higher. This is more than three times the national average of 20.5%.
• Over 95% of entries received a C/4 grade or higher, a 0.5% rise compared to last year.
• 87.7% of candidates obtained at least one A*/A or 9/8/7 grade.
• 73.7% of candidates gained at least one A* or 9/8 grade.
• The average number of GCSEs taken per candidate is 9.5.
• 20.5% of entries achieved a grade 9 this year, double that of last year and more than four times the national figure.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of ISC, said: “The independent sector can celebrate another set of fantastic GCSE results this year. A fifth of entries achieved a grade 9, a very impressive achievement.

“The results demonstrate the quality of teaching and ambition in our schools and prove the vital contribution the sector makes to the British education system. Well done to all pupils for their achievements.”

Julie Robinson, ISC general secretary, said: “Congratulations are due to all the teachers and pupils who have worked so hard to attain excellent results. We are delighted to see how strongly ISC schools’ results compare with the national averages this year.

“Of course there is more to school life than academic results and every good teacher aims to draw out the potential of pupils to achieve the best outcomes for them in context. Given their breadth of education and the focus on extra-curricular activities, the academic success of ISC schools is outstanding. The fact that a third of ISC schools offering GCSEs are not academically selective is testament to this point.”

Contact Georgina Belcher, ISC 0207 766 7076 georgina.belcher@isc.co.uk

Notes Independent Schools Council (ISC).

The ISC brings together seven associations and four affiliate associations to represent over 1,300 independent schools. These schools educate more than half-a-million children. Around half of UK independent schools are ISC schools, educating about 80% of all independent school children.

The ISC’s seven constituent associations are: Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS), Girls' Schools Association (GSA), Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), Independent Schools Association (ISA), Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA), The Society of Heads. The ISC's four affiliate associations are: Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), Council of British International Schools (COBIS), Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), Welsh Independent Schools Council (WISC).