Ipswich schools and colleges celebrate a strong set of results

This week, 1.1 million level 3 qualification results were issued across England – covering AS and A-levels, applied general qualifications and tech levels. Of those, 835,950 were A-level results, with 28.3% graded A or above and 78.1% graded C or above nationally.

The East of England recorded 27.9% of its 98,595 A-level results at grade A or above and 77.9% at grade C or above – both marginally below the England-wide average. London and the South East recorded the highest proportion of top grades of any English region, at 32.7% and 31.5% respectively. Ofqual also publishes results by centre type, with independent schools, sixth form colleges, grammar schools and further education colleges each recording very different national averages – a useful backdrop for looking at how individual Ipswich institutions performed this year.

Ipswich School, leading the way

Ipswich School reported that 84% of grades were awarded at A*–B or their BTEC equivalents – a figure bettered only once at the school in the past 20 years – with 53% of A-levels and BTEC equivalents secured at A* or A grade.

Nationally, independent schools recorded 48.6% of A-level results at grade A and above, so Ipswich School's figure sits some way above the average for fee-paying schools.

Head Nick Gregory said: "There is a huge amount in this set of results of which to be exceptionally proud, right across the 120+ pupils in our Year 13 cohort."

He pointed to a recent ISI inspection, which found that Ipswich School "teachers know the pupils well and develop positive relationships with them", that they "develop pupils' curiosity and encourage critical thinking", and that the school provides "an ambitious education with pastoral care that nurtures pupils' physical and emotional well being".

"Moments like this make worthwhile for everyone here the day-in, day-out hard work, dedication and care that earned such comments in the first place," he added.

Head of sixth form Ben Cliff said: "What is so special today for those of us in the Sixth Form Team at Ipswich School is knowing the individual stories behind some of the less obvious outcomes." He added that "more leavers than ever before are heading off to degree apprenticeships."

One Sixth Form College

This year, 670 students at One Sixth Form College received A-level results, with an overall A* to E pass rate of 96%. The A* to C pass rate rose to 68%, up from 67% in 2025, while the A* to B pass rate climbed to 41.3%, up from 39% the previous year. Ancient History, mathematics and politics were among the college's top-performing subjects.

Nationally, sixth form colleges recorded 78.1% of A-level results at grade C and above – the same measure as the college's A* to C figure, which stood at 68% this year. Over 500 students also took vocational qualifications at the college, with a 99% pass rate, led by applied science, engineering, ICT and forensic and criminal investigation.

Jake Robson, group sixth form principal at One Sixth Form College, which is part of Eastern Education Group, said: "More students enrolled with us than ever before, we have achieved our highest-ever levels of retention, more students have succeeded in gaining qualifications, and more have improved the quality of their outcomes. These results are truly exceptional."

Individual students had plenty to celebrate too. Leo Christie, 18, from Hadleigh, achieved three A grades and is starting a cyber security degree apprenticeship with Sizewell C. "I chose somewhere like Sizewell C because they are working towards net zero and that is something I really care about," he said. "I want to have a meaningful impact on society." Jessamy Lloyd, 18, from Ipswich, achieved three A*s and a B and is heading to Corpus Christi in Cambridge to study English. "Getting these results helps me believe in myself," she said.

Suffolk New College

Suffolk New College reported an overall pass rate of 95% across 668 learners taking level 3 courses, including a 98.8% pass rate among 178 UAL students, an 89% pass rate among 103 T Level students, and a 93.5% pass rate among 182 BTEC students, with nearly half achieving a distinction. A further 41 students took technical qualifications, with a 94.4% pass rate, including a 100% pass rate for equine students.

Among students nationally expected to complete their T Level this summer, 95.4% achieved a pass or above in the occupational specialism component, and 98.7% achieved a pass or above in the core component.

Suffolk New College's own reported pass rate of 89% for its 103 T Level students sits below both of those national component figures, though the college's results cover the T Level as a whole rather than either component in isolation, so the two are not measuring precisely the same thing. Ofqual does not publish comparable national pass-rate figures for UAL, BTEC or other technical qualifications.

Deputy principal Marianne Flack said: "We are delighted with the results this year. The students have worked incredibly hard and we are really pleased in terms of the proportion of high grades that have been achieved on BTEC courses." Among individual students, Chloe Cattermole, 18, from Stowmarket, gained a distinction on her Early Years T Level – one of the top grades in the country on her course – and is heading to Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford to study teacher training.

St Joseph's College

St Joseph's College said its proportion of A*–A grades was 23% higher than initial projections. The school did not publish an absolute percentage of A*–A grades, so its results cannot be set directly against the national independent-school average of 48.6% at grade A and above.

The school, which describes itself as non-selective, said 90% of CTEC students achieved the highest Distinction* grade, while the average BTEC grade was a Distinction – equivalent to an A. Among Extended Project Qualification students, 85% achieved A*–B.

Deputy principal Sacha Cinnamond said: "The significance of these results goes beyond headline numbers. St Jo's is deliberately non-academically selective, and yet our inclusive model and academic ambition are not competing ideals." S

tudents are heading to universities including Kings College, Goldsmiths and Durham. Tommy achieved AADD and will study Industrial Economics with a placement year at Nottingham University. Alicia achieved AAA and will study Natural Sciences at University College London. Chloe, who also achieved AADD*, will start a Level 4 Insurance Professional apprenticeship at Willis Towers Watson.

The bottom line

Four very different institutions, four very different results days – but a common thread of hard work paying off. For Ipswich's students, the numbers are only part of the story; what comes next, from Cambridge to Sizewell C, is just beginning.

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