The Independent Sixth Form Colleges who published A Level Exam Grades for Summer 2009

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	93.85	Concord College - Shrewsbury	Both	Co-ed	NA	23,400
2	92.40	Albemarle Independent College - London	Day	Co-ed	14,985	NA
3	91.82	Hurtwood House - Dorking	Both	Co-ed	17,220	25,830
4	89.20	Duff Miller College - London	Day	Co-ed	15,995	NA
5	88.60	Chelsea Independent College	Both	Co-ed	14,340	NA
6	85.60	Brampton College - Hendon	Day	Co-ed	NA	NA
7	83.66	D'Overbroeck's College - Oxford	Both	Co-ed	17,355	25,920
8	82.97	Cambridge Tutors College - Croydon	Both	Co-ed	14,400	NA
9	80.10	Abbey College - Cambridge	Both	Co-ed	16,900	26,150
10	78.80	Bosworth Independent College - Northamptonshire	Both	Co-ed	13,600	20,130
11	73.10	Mander Portman Woodward - Cambridge	Day	Co-ed	NA	NA
12	71.00	Abbey College - London	Both	Co-ed	NA	NA
13	69.20	David Game College - London	Both	Co-ed	11,800	18,300
14	64.11	Rochester Independent College	Both	Co-ed	12,750	24,426
15	63.14	Davies Laing & Dick - London	Day	Co-ed	17,380	NA
16	61.00	Collingham - London	Both	Co-ed	16,320	NA
17	60.00	CATS Cambridge	Both	Co-ed	18,975	29,325
18	57.00	Cambridge Centre For Sixth Form Studies	Both	Co-ed	16,014	25,491
19	53.00	Ealing Independent College	Day	Co-ed	9,995	14,795
20	50.00	Campbell Harris - London	Homestay Available	Co-ed	13,950	NA
21	45.40	Worksop College	Both	Co-ed	15,045	22,200
22	41.41	Abbey College - Manchester	Both	Co-ed	NA	NA

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.