A level results 2026: Free schools hit top grades

As students across England receive their A level, T level and vocational qualification results, the New Schools Network celebrates the fantastic results achieved across free schools.

According to Ofqual’s data on A-Level outcomes by centre type 27% of results at free schools were graded A or above - significantly surpassing the state-funded average of 25.4%.

This outstanding performance demonstrates the excellence and effectiveness of the free school model in preparing young people for their next steps.

New Schools Network warmly congratulates every student, teacher, and school leader involved in this achievement. These results underline how free schools are empowering students to exceed expectations.

Meg Powell-Chandler, Director of the New Schools Network, said:

“These results reflect the dedication and hard work of students and teachers in free schools across the country. We’re proud that so many students have secured top grades, setting them up for exciting opportunities and future success.

“In a year that has seen school freedoms removed and free school projects across the country cancelled, these fantastic results show what school autonomy can achieve.”

Free school performance has improved year on year. 

In 2023 21.6% of results at free schools were grade A or above, increasing to 23.3% in 2024 and 25.3% in 2025.In 2026 27% of A level entries at free schools were graded A or A*, outperforming other state-funded non-selective schools (Ofqual, results by centre type, Table 9 - Qualification results in England: summer 2026 - GOV.UK).

Examples of free school successes include:

· At Newham Collegiate Sixth Form students earned 78% A*-A and 97% A*-B grades. Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre is an outstanding 16-19 free school which opened in 2014 and is now part of the City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT) [link]

· West London Free School saw students receive another incredible set of A-level results for the school, which opened in 2011 and had its first A Level results in 2019. This year a record breaking 27% of entries were awarded an A*, with 40% of students achieving AAA or higher [link]

· Michaela Community School saw student achieve an average of AAA in their A level results across all subjects [link].

· Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School’s Sixth Form which opened in September 2022, saw 33% of all A levels awarded A-A*and 29% of students securing D*D*D* (Distinction*) in BTec qualifications  [link].

· Ark Bolingbroke Academy saw 38% of all grades awarded at A-A*, placing their students 10 percentage points above the national average. 71% of grades were awarded at A*-B, compared with a national figure of 56% [link].