Guildford in Surrey has been named the top local authority in England for A-level performance, with 50.0% of entries awarded A or A* grades this year, according to data published by Ofqual. This marks an increase from 48.8% in 2025, solidifying Guildford's position as the country's leading area for top grades.
Richmond upon Thames in London secured second place with 48.7% of entries receiving A or above, followed by Cheltenham in Gloucestershire (47.7%), Tonbridge & Malling in Kent (46.4%), and Hertsmere in Hertfordshire (46.2%). The rankings highlight a concentration of high-performing areas in southern England.
London's Top Performers
Richmond upon Thames leads London with 48.7% of A-level entries achieving A or A* grades, boasting high-performing schools alongside its iconic green spaces. Kingston upon Thames takes second place in London with 45.3% top marks, while Sutton ranks third with 44.5%, largely anchored by its renowned secondary school infrastructure.
Southwark places fourth as inner London's highest performer at 43.8%, blending vibrant cultural hubs with exceptional sixth-form academies. Newham rounds out the top five in London with 43.2% top grades, highlighting a strong upward trajectory powered by its standout educational colleges.
Regional Disparities and National Trends
The gap between the proportion of A-level entries in London getting top grades and the equivalent figure in both north-east England and the East Midlands has reached a new record size. Some 32.7% of A-level entries in the capital were awarded A or A* this year, up from 32.1% in 2025 and the highest for any region in England, the exam results show.
Only one of the top 10 areas is outside southern England: Trafford in Greater Manchester, which is joint seventh on the list with 45.1%. The area with the lowest proportion of A-level entries getting an A or above this year is Harlow in Essex, on 7.0%, followed by Test Valley in Hampshire (9.9%), Hartlepool (10.5%), and Castle Point in Essex (11.8%).
Affluence and Academic Success
Affluence is the single strongest predictor of academic success, heavily outweighing factors like geography or school choice. Data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows that a child’s family income is four times stronger as a predictor of performance than where they live.
This year’s results underscore the persistent link between wealth and educational attainment, with affluent areas in the South East and London dominating the top of the table. The data, compiled by Ofqual, covers all local authorities in England, with no figures published for Bolsover, Fareham, Knowsley, and the Isles of Scilly due to low entry numbers.
