As students across England receive their A level, T level and vocation 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 31.3% of results at free schools were graded A or above — significantly surpassing the state-funded average of 25.2%. Over 80% of results were grade C and above at free schools, compared to 76% at all state funded centres.
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 headteacher 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 across the free school sector. We’re proud that so many have secured top grades, setting them up for exciting opportunities and future success.
“This year’s upward trend in free school performance reinforces our commitment to ensure any changes to the education system build on this success. With the Schools Bill seeking to remove many freedoms that have contributed to free school success, we will continue our campaign to fix the Bill to protect what works in the education system.
“Parents, teachers and pupils deserve a system that builds on success – not one that holds it back. We urge them to write to their MP to fix the Bill and protect what works – which they can easily do by going to www.newschoolsnetwork.org.”
To write to your MP to fix the Schools Bill click here.
For more information on the Schools Bill click here
A level results
- Free school performance has improved year on year. In 2023 27.3% of results at free schools were grade A or above, increasing to 29.7% in 2024 before reaching 31.3% in 2025.1
Examples of free school successes include:
- West London Free School saw students receive the best ever 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 87% of their grades were awarded at a A*, A or B; and almost half of our students achieved three straight As and A*s. [link]
- At Newham Collegiate Sixth Form students earned 80% A*-A and 96% 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]
- Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School, an outstanding free school in Blackburn who opened its sixth form, TB6, in September 2022, saw almost a third of A levels completed achieve A*-A (31%). In vocational courses, 100% of students achieved a ‘DDD’ (Distinction) grade or better, with 13% receiving the highest possible grade of D*D*D* (Distinction*). [link]
- Ofqual, results by centre type, Table 11 – Qualification results in England: summer 2025 (accessible) – GOV.UK ↩︎