The Independent Sixth Form Colleges who published A Level Exam Grades for Summer 2011
It is more difficult to rank 6th form colleges than independent schools, because many of them do not release their results or they provide them in inconsistent formats. For this table, we have used the results (audited and unaudited) of those colleges, which are prepared to publicise them. We have simply taken the percentage of total A level entries, which were grades A or B. Some colleges would argue that A level resits should be excluded, but most of those were taken in January anyway and perversely their inclusion can sometimes depress the overall average grades. We have not included GCSEs because many colleges do not offer them or focus either on resits or short term GCSE courses. Some colleges are very selective on entry criteria whereas others may specialise in taking students with previous poor exam performance in order to transform their results. Thus you may need to ask colleges about their added value performance.
Please be aware that exam success is only one criterion in the search for a sixth form college. You are encouraged to read our free downloadable eGuide on how to select an independent sixth form college.
| A + B % | Name | Day / Board | Boy / Girl | Day £ | Board £ |
| 1 | 98.06 | Cardiff Sixth Form College | Both | Co ed | 12,000 | 21,000 |
| 2 | 92.29 | Concord College - Shrewsbury | Both | Co-ed | 11,700 | 26,550 |
| 3 | 88.30 | Albemarle Independent College - London | Day | Co-ed | 15,990 | NA |
| 4 | 85.40 | Hurtwood House - Dorking | Both | Co-ed | NA | 33,600 |
| 5 | 84.38 | Abbey College - Cambridge | Both | Co-ed | 19,900 | 29,400 |
| 6 | 83.78 | D'Overbroeck's College - Oxford | Both | Co-ed | 18,525 | 28,050 |
| 7 | 82.71 | Chelsea Independent College | Both | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 8 | 82.11 | Cambridge Tutors College - Croydon | Both | Co-ed | 16,650 | NA |
| 9 | 80.73 | Brampton College - Hendon | Day | Co-ed | 14,185 | NA |
| 10 | 80.10 | Duff Miller College - London | Day | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 11 | 80.00 | Mander Portman Woodward - Cambridge | Day | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 11 = | 80.00 | Albion College | Both | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 13 | 77.80 | Bosworth Independent College - Northamptonshire | Both | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 14 | 77.04 | Fine Arts College Hampstead | Day | Co ed | NA | NA |
| 15 | 76.00 | Abbey College - London | Both | Co-ed | 16,800 | NA |
| 16 | 73.00 | Mander Portman Woodward Independent College - Birmingham | Day | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 17 | 71.15 | Welbeck - Loughborough | Boarding | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 18 | 69.23 | Padworth College - Reading | Both | Co-ed | 11,850 | 24,900 |
| 19 | 63.26 | CATS Cambridge | Both | Co-ed | 20,625 | 30,615 |
| 20 | 62.80 | Ealing Independent College | Day | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 21 | 62.00 | Abbey College - Manchester | Both | Co-ed | 15,500 | NA |
| 22 | 60.70 | Abbey College - Birmingham | Both | Co-ed | 12,850 | 25,200 |
| 23 | 59.80 | Ashbourne Independent Sixth Form College - London | Both | Co-ed | 18,900 | NA |
| 24 | 57.61 | Rochester Independent College | Both | Co-ed | 13,500 | 25,176 |
| 25 | 57.42 | Davies Laing & Dick - London | Day | Co-ed | 16,800 | NA |
| 26 | 56.00 | Oxford International College | Both | Co-ed | NA | NA |
| 27 | 55.19 | David Game College - London | Both | Co-ed | 13,000 | NA |
| 28 | 53.05 | Worksop College | Both | Co-ed | 15,345 | 23,520 |
| 29 | 50.55 | Cambridge Centre For Sixth Form Studies | Both | Co-ed | 17,304 | 28,899 |
Note.1. In the case of sixth form colleges there are quite a few gaps in our data,
because the information is not freely available or the college will not supply it.
In general colleges which refuse to supply results, seem to have something to hide
and we suggest you ask them about their track record if you are considering them.
Note 2. However, exam results are not the only criteria by which to judge a college
(read our eGuide on selection factors click here).
Indeed a few of the colleges in this TOP 30 table are quite selective on their admissions.
Be aware your child may not necessarily thrive in a high pressure academic environment
– take advice.