A-level results 2014: Independent schools see drop in A grades despite one in five entries obtaining the top mark

Student A-level results are prepared at the Yate International Academy on August 14, 2014 in South Gloucestershire, near Bristol, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Nearly one in five A-level entries from private school were awarded an A* grade, according to figures released by independent schools.

However, they suffered a drop in the total of A* and A grade passes in line with the national picture that emerged on A-level results day last week.

A study of 475 independent schools’ exam results published by the Independent Schools Council revealed A* grade passes went up from 18 per cent to 19.2 per cent this year - more than double the national figure of 8.2 per cent, which was up from 7.6 per cent the previous year.

At combined A* and A grade level, the independent schools’ figure dropped from 51.3 per cent last year to 50.5 per cent. Nationally, the figure dropped 0.3 percentage points to 26 per cent.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC and former head of Harrow School, said: “What is remarkable is the number of candidates achieving three or more A* grades, which has increased to 7.1 per cent this year, up from 5.8 per cent last year. This is an impressive rise.”