It was an exciting morning for us all at BGS as we gathered to welcome back our Upper Sixth students as they collected their A-Level results. Students opened their envelopes with bated breath, before mingling with staff and parents in the Great Hall.
There were lots of happy and relieved faces and we’re incredibly proud to say that our 2025 cohort achieved a fantastic set of A-Level results, reflecting their effort and commitment as well as the continued dedication of our staff.
Over half (54%) of exams taken were awarded an A* or A grade, with 26% of entries achieving the top A* (well above the national score of 9.4%). Breadth of opportunity is key to our ethos and with 29 different subjects on offer for A-Levels, we had students taking exams in 27 of them this year. In addition to this, 37 pupils completed our Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ) in a variety of subjects, 29 gained the Level 3 Sports Leadership Certificate and 11 completed the Apprentice of Fine Arts (AFA) in Creative Writing, a national course, designed by our own Dr David Briggs.
Matthew Pattie our Deputy Head of Academic, sums it up perfectly:
“At BGS, success is about so much more than top grades. It’s about how far each pupil has come on their own journey and the progress they have made. That’s why we’re especially proud of our strong value-added scores this year, which shows the positive impact of being at BGS. This is down to each of our students working hard to make the most of their talents, inspiring and supporting one another as well as the commitment of our exceptional staff who help our students to bring out their very best. Many have exceeded even their own expectations, and we could not be prouder of them all."
The combination of the broad range of subjects on offer and the commitment of our Future Pathways team to support each child in finding the right opportunity, means that our leavers are heading off to an exciting range of destinations, from apprenticeship careers, language, engineering, sports, business, art and medicine courses and eight students are going to Oxbridge.
A massive congratulations to all our Upper Sixth students. Thank you for allowing us to share some of your BGS and A-Level stories:
With three A*s and a B, our Upper Sixth Dance cohort are taking their talents to a variety of new paths. Having only dabbled in dance at Junior School, Oliver’s passion for dance was ignited after he took part in the Year 8 Dance Show. “I took part in every Dance Show from then on. I’m so excited to have been accepted into Rambert Dance School. It will give me the opportunity to push myself even further and build on what I have learnt here at BGS”. Zena joined BGS in Sixth Form after seeing a performance of Cruella in Year 11: “I chose BGS for the dance. I saw the show and just thought ‘get me up there’ - it was incredible”. As part of her A-Levels, Zena worked in BGS Juniors as a Teaching Assistant and is going on to study Education and Learning at SGS, a hands-on course that includes three days a week on placement.
Ciaran has also chosen a practical apprenticeship in Cyber Security with the Ministry of Defence for the next stage of his education. Ciaran succeeded in getting a place on the competitive course, being selected from over 1000 applicants: “Mr Ruck, Head of Future Pathways and Career Advice, told me about alternate pathways to university and I took his advice. I prefer a hands on approach and I’m keen to get started on the job”.
Having recently represented Team GB in Artistic Swimming, Amelie chose BGS Sixth Form as the right place to help her balance her A-Levels and rigorous training regime: “The teachers were always so supportive. They helped set up 1:1 meetings so that I could catch up if I missed any classes. You don’t just feel like a student here, you feel like a person, an individual. I feel truly valued here at BGS. It’s not just about academics, it’s about you as a whole”. She has succeeded in getting three As overall and is looking ahead to her next challenge - pursuing her childhood dream of joining the RAF.
Pippi joined Sixth Form after receiving a Bursary Award and is going to Durham University to study Maths. Despite not being sure on her A-Level choices upon joining, Pippi went on to achieve four A*s. Captain of the girls’ football team, Pippi feels as though she has left her mark on the school: “BGS gave me the confidence to believe in myself. I’ve loved every minute. In the two years I have been here, I feel like I have grown as a person. Part of that was from bringing more football into the school. The uptake has been amazing. I'm so pleased to see the enthusiasm from other girls to get involved in it and hope it continues in the future!”.
Another Mathematician and sports enthusiast, Freddie achieved four A*s and has chosen to study Maths at the University of Cambridge: “My teachers have been incredible. I was nervous about the entrance exam but Miss Poole contacted an OB that was two years above me and studying Maths at Cambridge. He gave me great advice and it all just clicked”.
After years of hard work and determination, we can’t wait to see where your next adventures take you all.
