A-Level results 2026
Downside School celebrates another excellent set of A Level and BTEC results
Downside School is celebrating another excellent set of A Level and BTEC results, which are a testament to pupils’ hard work, character and commitment. As they each move on to the next stage of their journeys, they do so with every reason to be proud of their achievements and every confidence in the bright futures that lie ahead.
“Exceptional achievements such as these are worthy of celebration and represent part of a much broader story of ambition, perseverance and success across the year group. At Downside, our educational philosophy is centred on helping every pupil become the very best version of themselves academically, personally and spiritually. Whether in the classroom, through the creative arts, in leadership roles, on the sports field, or through the values and reflection that underpin life in our community, we seek to develop confident, compassionate and well-rounded young people. This year’s results are a true reflection of that approach.”Mike Randall, Interim Head
While we firmly believe that examination results do not define a young person, this year’s cohort has produced some truly outstanding academic performances. As a non-selective school, the fact that 35% of pupils achieved three or more A* or A grades, and more than a quarter of all subjects were awarded exclusively at A* or A grade, is clearly a great achievement.
We are delighted to congratulate twins Molly and Ned, who together secured five A* grades and two A grades across the sciences and languages, alongside other pupils such as Maria, who achieved AAA; Juan, A*A*AB; Franz, AAAB; Albert, A*AA; Alexander, AAA; Sacha, AAA; and Abigail, A*AA.
This year, Downside pupils have secured places to study a wide range of subjects at leading universities, including Physics at the University of St Andrews, Medicine and Law at Warwick, Engineering at Edinburgh, Accounting and Finance at Durham, Social Sciences at UCL, Liberal Arts at Exeter, Music and Sound Recording at York, and Criminology at Cardiff.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) continues to be a particular strength at Downside, providing pupils with the opportunity to pursue independent research in areas about which they are genuinely passionate. This year, 78% of candidates achieved an A* or A grade, reflecting both the academic rigour of the qualification and the enthusiasm with which pupils embraced the challenge. The breadth and quality of the projects undertaken were fascinating, with topics ranging from aircraft safety and the impact of social media on teenage mental health to public attitudes towards vaccines, the effects of Western intervention on women in Afghanistan, and Why Do Democracies Collapse? Lessons from Weimar Germany and 1990s Russia. These projects exemplify the intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and independent learning skills that will serve our pupils well as they progress to university and beyond.
