Independent schools make the grade again

Britain's top Independent Schools have extended their lead over state counterparts in terms of grade performance, claim figures out today.

They show a 0.9 percentage point rise in the number of pupils gaining A* grades – to 19.1 per cent – compared with a national figure of 8.2 per cent.

The data was supplied by the Independent Schools Council, which represents hundreds of schools at the top end of the market – such as Eton, Winchester, Westminster and Roedean.

Their performance led to a call from headmistress Cynthia Hall, of table-topping Wycombe Abbey Girls' School, for all leading universities to come clean and recognise the A* grade in their admissions process. She said: "It makes the system more understandable to students and fairer."