Academic results & destinations
Original analysis and evidence reviews on academic results & destinations — written to help UK parents decide for themselves.
What today's A-level results actually tell parents of younger children
A-level results were published on 13 August 2026. Behind the headline grades, the 2024-25 baseline shows an average grade of B-, average points per entry of 36.09, and persistent regional and disadvantaged-pupil gaps that trace back to primary-school choices. This piece explains what the numbers actually mean for parents whose child is still in Year 4 or Year 8 — without pretending to predict any one child's outcome.
Does paying more buy a better outcome? What £30,000 and £50,000 a year actually get at 25 leading senior schools
Across 25 leading senior schools, published fees explain only about a third of the differences in Oxbridge outcomes. The most academically selective schools tend to be the best value per pound of fees, and one school matches a £49k-a-year rival's Oxbridge success rate at £17,274 a year less.