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 (A*) | 17% | 14% | 15% | 27% | 16% | 11% | 11% | |
| 9-7 (A*-A) | 34% | 33% | 35% | 47% | 33% | 24% | 26% | |
| 9-6 (A*-B) | 58% | 59% | 60% | 69% | 56% | 42% | 47% | |
| 9-4 (A*-C) | 93% | 95% | 97% | 97% | 94% | 88% | 89% | |
| 9-4 (A*-C) 5 or more inc Eng & Maths | 91% | 95% | 99% | 99% | 95% | 94% | 86% | |
| 9-1 (A*-G) (Pass) | 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 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A*-A (or equivalent) | 31% | 39% | 32% | 41% | 70% | 55% | 37% | 42% |
| A*-B | 59% | 72% | 62% | 68% | 85% | 77% | 64% | 61% |
| A*-C | 82% | 97% | 88% | 92% | 98% | 93% | 86% | 83% |
| A*-E (Pass) | 99.8% | 99.6% | 99.7% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 99.4% | 100% |
Sixth Form results include the grades, or equivalent, of A Levels, BTECs, Tech Level and EPQ qualifications.
* 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, 59% achieving A*-B, 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 2024
Shiplake College pupils are celebrating this morning as they achieved the highest % of top GCSE grades (excluding the 2021 COVID results), with 17% of 9-8 grades, an increase from 14% last year. The percentage of 9-7 grades also rose from 33% to 34%. Overall, the results were significantly higher than the pre-COVID results of 2019, with 93% of grades marked 9-4 and 58% of grades 9-6 (88% and 42% respectively in 2019).
Headmaster, Tyrone Howe, comments "It has been another successful morning for all members of the Shiplake College community and there was a celebratory atmosphere in Marjorie’s Café. Speaking to lots of pupils and parents, there are countless examples of them being delighted with specific subject results, because they worked particularly hard for that exam. Central to this is the engagement and commitment from the Shiplake teachers who play a crucial role in achieving such positive outcomes. For all, the theme is if you work hard, you receive the results you deserve and give yourself a real chance of achieving your own personal best.
"A high proportion of grades 9-7 were achieved in Triple Science, English Literature, History, Further Maths and Computing. A really pleasing number of pupils received grades 9-6 and particular congratulations to Angus Mullens, Zac McConkey, James Man on achieving 9-7 grades across the board.
"We have the highest number of students joining us in Sixth Form this year and we’re now focused on hitting the ground running right from the very first day of Lower Sixth to make sure the same high standards are in place."
