Early results from Southwark’s schools show that the borough’s A-level students have once again outperformed national figures by between 1.8 and 10.4 percentage points across the different grade ranges.
Southwark’s provisional results for 2025 are up across all grade boundaries compared to last year. The largest improvement was a 4.8 percentage point rise in the proportion of exam entries achieving grades A*- B, from 60.5% in 2024 to 65.3% this year.
This year, 28.2% of England A-level entries achieved an A or A*, up from 27.6% last year and is the highest proportion outside the pandemic years, according to the Joint Council for Qualifications.
% of A level entries
| A*-A | A*-B | A*-C | A*E | |||||
| 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| Southwark | 31.5% | 33.4% | 60.5% | 65.3% | 82.4% | 86.7% | 98.0% | 99.2% |
| National | 27.6% | 28.2% | 53.6% | 55.0% | 76.0% | 77.7% | 97.1% | 97.4% |
Early analysis also shows a positive picture for children in care. Highlights include offers from top universities such as Edinburgh and Durham to study Law, Classics, and Sociology; progression to Westminster for Software Engineering with Electronics after outstanding BTEC Engineering results; and places at Greenwich to study Early Years following strong Business and Health & Social Care grades.
Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:
“Congratulations to all our A-level students on another fantastic set of results. This year you’ve not only outperformed the national average in every grade range, you’ve also achieved some of the biggest improvements we’ve ever seen. It’s an outstanding reflection of your determination and the dedication of teachers, parents and carers across Southwark.
“Our students have exciting futures ahead whether it’s university, training, apprenticeships or work and we are here to help you take that next step. Through our mailing list, we can connect you with local opportunities and support so you can turn your ambitions into reality.”
Join Southwark Council’s mailing list to get updates on job vacancies and career opportunities in and around Southwark: www.southwark.gov.uk/nextstepmailinglist
If you’re worried about your results or next steps, help is available:
- National Careers Service: Call 0800 100 900 or visit nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
- One Hub Southwark: www.onehubsouthwark.co.uk/career-advice
- UCAS: A level results day (ucas.com)
- Mental health support: Call free on 020 8138 1805 or visit www.thenestsouthwark.org.uk