At Shiplake College we are very proud of the achievements of our pupils. As a school that has a broad admissions policy, taking into account all aspects of a pupil’s potential on entry, it is natural that our results will have a greater span than those schools who actively select according to academic ability.
That said, there has been an upward trend in GCSE and A Level results over the last ten years; a reflection of a greater focus on academic rigour. Many of our pupils achieve far higher grades than they were predicted to when they joined Shiplake College, with value-added at an academic and personal level a considerable strength of the school. The academic results from recent years are displayed below.
Sixth Form and GCSE Results Summary
GCSE and iGCSE
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021** | 2020* | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-8 | 18% | 17% | 14% | 15% | 27% | 16% | 11% | 11% |
| 9-7 | 38% | 34% | 33% | 35% | 47% | 33% | 24% | 26% |
| 9-6 | 64% | 58% | 59% | 60% | 69% | 56% | 42% | 47% |
| 9-4 | 95% | 93% | 95% | 97% | 97% | 94% | 88% | 89% |
| 9-1 | 99.7% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
* 2020 results reflect the CAGs (Centre-Assessed Grades) given by the College following the cancellation of public examinations due to the COVID pandemic.
** 2021 results reflect the TAGs (Teacher-Assessed Grades) given by the College following the cancellation of public examinations due to the COVID pandemic.
Sixth Form Results
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021** | 2020* | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A*-A (or equivalent) | 32%^ | 39% | 32% | 41% | 70% | 55% | 37% |
| A*-B | 60%^ | 72% | 62% | 68% | 85% | 77% | 64% |
| A*-C | 82% | 97% | 88% | 92% | 98% | 93% | 86% |
| A*-E (Pass) | 99.8% | 99.6% | 99.7% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 99.4% |
Sixth Form results include the grades, or equivalent, of A Levels, BTECs, Tech Level and EPQ qualifications. ^Results are updated as any remarks received impact headline stats.
* 2020 results reflect the CAGs (Centre-Assessed Grades) given by the College following the cancellation of public examinations due to the COVID pandemic.
** 2021 results reflect the TAGs (Teacher-Assessed Grades) given by the College following the cancellation of public examinations due to the COVID pandemic.
Please note that the College does not normally supply a breakdown of results by subject as some departments are limited in terms of numbers which can easily affect percentages. In addition, such data does not necessarily reflect any value-added scores, for example some significant achievements at both the upper and lower grade levels.
Sixth Form Results 2025
Shiplake College celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2025 following the release of this year’s Sixth Form results. In a year where a large and academically diverse cohort sat exams, pupils demonstrated resilience, ambition, and a commitment to personal excellence.
The results reflect a strong academic performance across the board with 31% of all A-Level grades being awarded A*-A [changed to 32% after remarks], 59% achieving A*-B [changed to 60% after remarks], and 82% securing grades A*-C.
Top performer was Theo Sanders with 3A*s, heading to Exeter to study Economics. Other notable mentions are Will Harper, who achieved 2A*s, A and C; Leila Nicholas and Madeleine Spooner, who both achieved 2A*s in their results; and Rufus Goggins, James Lucking, and Alfie Malcolm all of whom scored A*AA. As a year group, there was an improvement in the number of pupils meeting or exceeding their predicted grades, and there was an overall positive value-added score when compared to national baseline testing. Standout departments were Drama, Design Technology, Geography, History, Politics, Religious Studies, and Criminology.
We are delighted that the Class of 2025 are well-placed to set sail for life after Shiplake having secured excellent university outcomes. 96% of pupils have been accepted to their first or second choice university, an increase from 91% in 2024. Furthermore, 77% secured their first choice, slightly up from last year’s 76%. The most popular destinations this year include Exeter, Manchester Metropolitan, Oxford Brookes and Cardiff, with the most popular courses being Business, Sport, Politics, and International Relations.
We are also proud to see five rowers heading to prestigious universities in the United States, including Princeton, Washington, Iowa, Wisconsin and Boston.
Headmaster Tyrone Howe commented:
"These results are testament to the hard work and perseverance of our pupils, and commitment of our exceptional teaching staff. This year group embodies all that is great about Shiplake – character, ambition, and grit. I am especially pleased to see that an extremely high proportion of those pupils who joined us in Year 7 and 8 have gone on to achieve high academic outcomes – testament to the value that is added to pupils as they progress through the school."
Some pupils were just a few marks away from higher grades, and with remarks underway, there may yet be further reasons to celebrate.
The College would like to thank the staff for their dedication and professionalism, and parents for their unwavering support throughout the academic journey. To the Class of 2025 – well done. You have made the Shiplake community proud. Don’t be strangers – we look forward to welcoming you back to the College as Old Vikings.
GCSE Results 2025
Shiplake College is delighted to announce its best ever GCSE results, achieved by the largest Year 11 cohort in the College’s history*, with 83 pupils sitting exams this summer.
Across the board, pupils performed exceptionally well, building on previous years’ successes and setting a new academic benchmark for the College:
- 18% of grades awarded were 9-8 (up from 17% in 2024)
- 38% at grades 9-7 (up from 34%)
- 64% at grades 9-6 (up from 58%)
- 95% at grades 9-4 (up from 93%)
- 99.7% overall pass rate (grades 9-1)
This year’s outstanding outcomes reflect a powerful culture of aspiration, hard work, and support at Shiplake, underpinned by the College’s core focus on teaching and learning. 95% of pupils achieved five or more passes at grade four and above across all academic subjects, with science, religious studies, and creative arts departments performing particularly strongly.
We are delighted that, once again, English and Maths have also shone as areas of excellence, with 99% of pupils achieving grade 4 or above in both English Language and English Literature, and 100% in Higher Tier Maths.
Among the significant number of success stories who achieved 9-6 across all their subjects, there were outstanding performances from:
- Charlie Scott – nine grade 9s and one 8
- Will Huckle – nine grade 9s
- Will Griffith – two 9s, seven 8s
- Alex Hooker and Milton Wong – straight 9-7s
- Matthew Perry – achieving a rare 9,9 in double science
It was also notable that 76% of pupils achieved at least one grade 7 or above and the number of grade 9s to 7s achieved has risen from 184 to 252, a rise of 37%.
Commenting on the results, Headmaster Tyrone Howe said:
"We are immensely proud of what our pupils have achieved this year – not just because these are the best GCSE results in Shiplake’s history, but because they reflect the hard work, resilience and ambition of this incredible year group. Our focus on metacognition – helping pupils understand how their brains work, how to revise effectively, and how they learn best – has clearly paid dividends. These results are a testament to the power of preparation, dedication, and belief.
This is a triumph for our whole community – pupils, families, and staff. The level of support, the commitment of our teachers, and the pupils’ determination to achieve their personal bests – no matter their starting points – have all come together this year in remarkable fashion”.
As the majority of these pupils now prepare to enter Sixth Form, and we look to welcome Year 12 joiners to create our largest Sixth Form cohort ever, the College remains committed to nurturing individual growth, with a focus on academic excellence, and helping every pupil thrive. These pupils now look ahead to an exciting Sixth Form journey, building on the strong academic and personal foundations set at GCSE.
*excluding the 2021 TAGs results due to the COVID pandemic.