Exam Success

We are regularly the top performing school in Cheshire, and we are incredibly proud of our pupils and their academic achievements. Our A level and GCSE results are amongst the best in the country and demonstrate our excellent teaching, enthusiastic pupils and first class facilities.

 

 

2025 Exam Results Overview

The King’s School Chester is celebrating a truly historic year of GCSE results, achieving the highest percentage of top grades since current records began.

A remarkable 85% of all grades were at grade 9–7 (A/A* equivalent) which represents the strongest performance in 16 years. Overall, the results set new benchmarks for academic excellence with 38% of all grades awarded at grade 9 and 66% of all grades at grade 9/8.

This followed a truly exceptional year of A Level results, with students achieving remarkable grades across a broad range of subjects.  Delighted students achieved the best results in three years and the highest percentage of A* grades since pre-pandemic grading, marking a triumphant end to their time at King’s.  

Overall, 25% of all grades were A*, with 60% graded A/A* and an impressive 85% graded A*–B.  These results will see them progress to some of the UK’s most competitive courses and universities. 

A Levels: 

• 25% – A*
• 60% – A*/A
• 85% – A*/B

GCSEs:

• 38% – 9
• 66% – 9/8
• 84% – 9-7
• 96% – 9-6

 

Previous Years

2024 GCSE Results

Hard work and dedication paid off for a year group whose early Senior School years were affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Almost 70% of all grades achieved were 9-7 with 45% at the top 9-8 grades. Eleven subjects celebrated more than 70% of their grades at 9-7, with English enjoying particular success. In English Language, 50% of pupils achieved a 9 and in English Literature, 59% of entries were graded at 9-8.

 

2023 GCSE Results

As grade boundaries for GCSEs returned to pre-pandemic levels, 2023 results reflected the hard work and dedication of a year group who had faced significant challenges during their Senior School careers.

27% of results were grade 9, and 51% at grades 9-8, with 19 students celebrating ten or more grade 9/8s.

2022 GCSE Results

Students celebrated outstanding GCSE results with 30% of all pupils achieving five or more grades 9s and 32% of all grades awarded at the highest possible level of grade 9. 

Ten subjects celebrated more than 60% of grades at 9/8 (A*), with particularly strong results in History (69% grade 9s), Biology (81% grade 9/8) and Physics and Chemistry (71% grade 9/8).

The year group performed exceptionally well overall, with 59% of all grades at 9/8

2021 GCSE Results

In 2021, GCSE students faced a second year of exam disruption but they maintained their focus and work ethic to achieve fantastic results. 65% of grades awarded were at 9-8 and a total of 43% of our students achieved five or more 9 grades. 

2020 GCSE Results

Our 2020 GCSE students faced some unique challenges due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. We were delighted to be able to congratulate them on their fantastic results. A total of 31% of pupils gained five or more 9 grades and 52.8% of grades awarded were at 9-8.

2019 GCSE Results

In 2019, we celebrated 26% of GCSE results at grade 9, with 48% at 9/8 and 84% 9/6. Students achieved 69% of grades at A*-A or 9-7 placing King’s as the top performing school in Cheshire for GCSEs.

A Level

2024 results gave students reason to celebrate as 86% of our leavers secured a place at their first-choice university. Almost 80% of all grades achieved were A*/B with almost half at A*/A. 

• In 2023, 86% of students secured their first-choice university place with an impressive 25 students achieving straight A*/A grades
• In 2022, 67% of grades were A*/A and 86% A*/B, with 80% of students going on to study at their first-choice university; amazing achievements after facing the disruptions of pandemic lockdowns
• In 2021, the year group excelled despite being unable to formally take their exams due to the coronavirus health crisis. A total of 47% of grades achieved were at A*, 80% of all grades were at A*/A and 96% at A*-B
• In 2020, 80% of students gained a place in their first choice university, and in 2021, more than 90% of students gained a place on their first choice university course
• In 2019, A Level students achieved the second highest percentage of A*/A grades in the school’s history at that time
• An incredible 65% of grades were A*/A, matching a record year in 2015. Talented students also achieved the highest percentage of A* in four years, with 24.6% of grades at this level
• In an outstanding year for King’s, 67% of students achieved at least 2 A*/A grades
• Overall, 87% of grades were at A*/B for the second year running, with 40 students achieving A*/A in every subject – including 10 students with straight A* grades

 

Full Result Tables

Parents of Junior School and Willow Lodge pupils may request an appointment with the School to view and discuss the academic data pertaining to their children.

Leavers’ destinations

Our students consistently obtain places at their first choice university and are successful in winning places on highly competitive courses at the top universities. We are extremely proud to be rated the best independent school in the North and sixth in the UK for our leavers’ destinations. Almost all our students go forward to higher education. 

For more information on leavers’ destinations, visit here.