Key Points
- Top Performing: Richmond upon Thames has been found to be the best performing London Borough, where 48.7 percent of all the A-level entries have achieved either A or A* grades.
- Regional Disparity: There exists a significant achievement gap between different regions; the ratio of top grades obtained in Richmond is almost thrice that in Tower Hamlets (17.1%).
- Most Improved: Merton Borough has shown the most improvement in the capital, with an increase of 3.6 percent in top grades, achieving 40.7%, while Haringey too shows substantial improvement, gaining 43.1%.
- Least Performing: Tower Hamlets (17.1%), Havering (17.5%), Islington (19.1%), and Barking & Dagenham (19.1%) have registered the least proportions of A or A* grades.
- Background: London remains ahead of other regions in England. The attainment gap between London and other regions like North East or East Midlands has become the widest since 2010, when the current grading system began.
- National Top Performer: Guildford in Surrey has registered the highest grades in England, with 50.0 percent of all entries receiving A or A* grades.
- Data Source: All the figures are extracted from the official data of Ofqual.
London (Extra London News) August 15, 2026 – The definitive landscape of academic attainment across the capital has been laid bare, with new data revealing the stark disparities in A-level success between London’s 32 boroughs. Published by the exam regulator Ofqual, the figures provide a comprehensive breakdown of where students are most likely to achieve the coveted A or A grades, highlighting a growing divide in educational outcomes across different local authorities.*
Which London boroughs are leading in A-level results?
According to the report by Megan Howe and Michael Howie of The Standard, Richmond upon Thames has secured the top spot in the capital. The data indicates that nearly half of all A-level entries in the borough—specifically 48.7 per cent—received the highest possible marks.
Following Richmond, the hierarchy of academic success remains concentrated in specific areas. Kingston upon Thames sits in second place with 45.3 per cent, followed closely by Sutton at 44.5 per cent, Southwark at 43.8 per cent, and Newham at 43.2 per cent. These figures illustrate that in these top-performing boroughs, nearly one in two exam entries is rewarded with an A or A* grade.
Which areas are showing the most significant improvement?
While some boroughs maintain a consistent lead, others have seen dramatic shifts in their academic fortunes. As reported by Megan Howe and Michael Howie for The Standard, Merton has emerged as the standout performer for the current year. The borough recorded the most significant improvement of any in London, with the proportion of A/A* grades climbing by 3.6 percentage points, rising from 37.1 per cent to 40.7 per cent. This shift has successfully propelled Merton into the ranks of the capital’s top nine performing areas.
Haringey has also demonstrated a notable upward trajectory. The data shows an increase of 3.3 percentage points in top grades, moving from 39.8 per cent to 43.1 per cent, which places the borough sixth overall in London.
Conversely, not all areas are experiencing positive momentum. The Standard highlights that Camden saw the most substantial decline in performance, with the percentage of top grades falling from 32.1 per cent to 30.5 per cent.
Where are the lowest A-level attainment rates in London?
At the other end of the academic spectrum, the data presents a challenging picture for several boroughs. According to the analysis by Megan Howe and Michael Howie of The Standard, less than 20 per cent of A-level entries in Tower Hamlets (17.1%), Havering (17.5%), Islington (19.1%), and Barking & Dagenham (19.1%) were awarded an A or A*.
The disparity is particularly striking when comparing the highest and lowest ends of the spectrum. The proportion of top grades in Richmond is nearly three times that of Tower Hamlets, representing a significant 31.6 percentage point gap. This divide raises ongoing questions regarding regional educational inequality within the capital.
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How does London compare to the rest of England?
The academic strength of London remains a focal point in national discussions. The Standard reported that on the Thursday preceding the release, it was confirmed that 32.7 per cent of pupils in London achieved A*-A classifications, marking a 0.6 per cent increase compared to 2025.
Nationally, the South East stands as the second-best performing region, with 31.5 per cent of students achieving top grades, compared to 31.3 per cent the previous year. The East of England followed in third place at 27.9 per cent.
However, the gap between London and the lowest-performing regions—the North East and the East Midlands—has expanded significantly. As noted by The Standard, London’s performance is now 9.6 percentage points ahead of these regions. Journalists Megan Howe and Michael Howie point out that this is the widest gap since the present system of grading was introduced in 2010.
Nationally, Guildford in Surrey has claimed the top spot across all of England, with 50.0 per cent of exam entries awarded A or A* grades, rising from 48.8 per cent in 2025. In contrast, the area with the lowest proportion of top grades in the country is Harlow in Essex, which recorded only 7.0 per cent.
Is the geographic divide in education growing?
The concentration of high performance in southern England is evident. The Standard notes that across the country, only one of the top 10 areas is located outside of southern England: Trafford in Greater Manchester, which is currently tied for seventh place with 45.1 per cent.
