Blackheath High School celebrates best ever A*-B results
- 84% of results graded A*-B
- 41% of results graded A*-A
- 84% of first choice university places offered
A-LEVEL RESULTS
Blackheath High School is delighted to announce its highest set of A*-B results at A-level since the Covid years, with 41% of results graded A*-A and 84% of students offered their first choice of university. Sustaining the success of recent years, these results reflect the highly aspirational academic environment fostered at Blackheath High School.
Individual success
Head, Natalie Argile, shared her pride in this year’s achievements, saying, “These results reflect the incredible effort and commitment of our students. Behind each grade lies a personal journey of perseverance, resilience and determination. Our curriculum is designed to nurture confidence, happiness and curiosity alongside academic success. We are so proud of these bright, ambitious young women, and we can’t wait to see where their passions and talents lead them.”
Opening doors
Our students’ exceptional A-level results have opened doors to exciting new opportunities at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities and most competitive courses. Their journeys were supported by our enhanced Competitive Admissions Programme, offering personalised guidance for applications to selective universities and medicine-related pathways.
Top university destinations include:
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University of Leeds
- Royal Academy of Music
- University of Exeter
Students will go on to study a phenomenally diverse range of courses, including Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering, Biochemistry, Economics, English, Fashion Textiles, Mathematics and Politics.
Pathways this year include:
- English – University of Cambridge
- Physics – King’s College London
- Harp – Royal Academy of Music
- Architecture – University of Manchester
- Biomedical Sciences – University of Exeter
- Politics – University of Warwick
- Psychology – Goldsmiths, University of London
EPQ success
Every Extended Project Qualification this year achieved A-B*, marking another area of academic strength. These independent research projects, equivalent to half an A-level, are highly valued by universities for developing advanced research and presentation skills.
This year’s topics ranged from “Exploring the Importance of Music in Shakespeare’s Plays” to “Can Mammals Reproduce by Parthenogenesis?” – a reflection of our students’ intellectual curiosity and wide-ranging interests.
Natalie Argile continues, “It is inspiring to see students pursuing courses driven by genuine passion. The breadth of destinations reflects not only their academic strengths but also their courage to follow what excites them – something we wholeheartedly champion.
“Sixth Form and academic excellence remain central to our School Vision, and today’s results show the impact of this commitment. When students leave Blackheath High, they join the GDST alumnae network – a remarkable community of over 100,000 women. I know today’s achievements will propel them, and those who follow, to make an impact in whichever direction they choose.
“We are immensely grateful to our dedicated teachers and supportive parents, whose encouragement makes all the difference. As we celebrate these results, we look forward to seeing our students thrive in higher education and beyond, and to nurturing the next generation of thinkers, creators and trailblazers.”
Read about some of our fantastic students and their stories of success at Blackheath High School:
Lauren
Creative Lauren is delighted that her stellar A-level grades – A* in English Literature and Religious Studies and an A History, plus an A* in her EPQ – have won her an extremely prestigious place at Cambridge University to study English. She also has the added honour of taking up a Magdalene College choral scholarship.
Making the most of every opportunity
Lauren joined Blackheath High from her local primary school and immediately felt at home: “I loved the positive environment and how teachers adapted learning to each individual.”
Awarded Academic and Music Scholarships, as well as the KM Watts English Scholarship in Sixth Form, she found these opportunities pivotal in deepening her passions and challenging her to excel. The small year-group size helped her build strong friendships and make the most of every lesson.
Lauren embraced school life wholeheartedly. She worked as a Librarian, strengthening her love of literature, and took on leadership roles including Form Captain, Deputy Head Student and Peer Mentor.
“These roles not only helped me gain confidence in leadership but also in skills such as public speaking and organisation – which ultimately prepared me for my UCAS journey. As a Music scholar I sang in three ensembles a week as well performing at incredible venues such as Fairfield Hall, the Royal Academy of music and the Old Royal Naval College – inspiring me to pursue a Choral Scholarship at Cambridge.
Looking to the future
“I am so excited to be reading English Literature at the University of Cambridge; Blackheath High has curated my passions surrounding literature and given me so many opportunities to delve deeper into the full range of literature. From creative writing competitions to poetry competitions, I have enjoyed being challenged to assess my own understanding of the boundaries of writing.
“My dream is to be an author or poet, and winning the BHS Greenman Public Speaking Competition for my speech ‘The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword’ was a pivotal moment, encouraging me to research the place of literature in the world’s current climate and hone my persuasive skills.
Blackheath High has provided me with the most valuable lessons both in and out of the classroom and have encouraged me to always strive to achieve my full potential.”
Tiana
Tiana leaves Blackheath High to fulfil her dream of taking up a highly sought-after place at the Royal Academy of Music, specialising in harp. Her journey through Blackheath High has been remarkable – she shares her reflections and thoughts on her next steps.
A true community
Tiana joined in Year 5 from River House Montessori and immediately felt at home: “Blackheath is so welcoming and inclusive. My classmates and teachers have always been friendly and supportive. There’s a real emphasis on individuality, with a genuine appreciation for and recognition of each person’s unique qualities.”
She also valued the personalised support available: “Teachers were always willing to listen, discuss ideas and offer tailored help. The SEND department was approachable and provided both academic and emotional support.”
A musical path
Tiana embraced the school’s vibrant musical life, performing with String Quartet, Jazz Band and Sinfonia, and appeared at countless concerts and festivals – from Pop Fest and Open Days to the Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer Concerts. She performed on both violin and harp, even conducting on one occasion, and proudly holds the school record for most House Music competition wins.
“I also found so many ways to be a leader – I was Deputy Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Music and Academic Scholar, and Careers Ambassador. I led numerous school events and assemblies; my favourites were the LGBTQIA+ Pride Sponging Event and the Dyslexia and Music Assembly. I also founded Alexander Technique Club, focused on increasing body awareness during everyday activities, helping students develop body awareness, reduce physical strain and manage stress.
Tiana credits Blackheath High with helping her grow personally and artistically: “The many opportunities to perform and speak publicly have built my confidence. I was encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and develop resilience.
Looking ahead to the Royal Academy of Music
Her ambition to become a professional harpist has been long-standing: “I’ve known for years that I wanted to pursue a career as a harpist. I’m thrilled to be joining the Royal Academy, where I hope to perform and tour as a soloist, in chamber ensembles and in orchestras.” She is especially excited to study jazz harp and hopes to perform with a jazz band as part of her future career.
Maddie
Maddie earned a superb set of A* grades across Physics, Maths and Chemistry as well as an A in her EPQ, entitled ‘Can Mammals Reproduce by Parthenogenesis?’. She is now excited to head off to study Biochemistry at Imperial College London.
Of her dream career, Maddie says, “I would love to carry on studying Biochemistry until the end of time! I’d like to be an academic at a leading university, such as Imperial College. I want to produce lots of interesting scientific research in important academic journals to contribute to the field.”
A lifetime of memories
Maddie has so many good memories of her time at Blackheath High. She comments, “One of my best memories is of the school food! Seriously though, I have just had the best time here. I joined in Nursery, then my family moved to Cambridge for a while and I came back again properly in Year 10. One of my favourite parts of the Senior School was getting involved in co-curricular clubs, especially the STEM and Eco Clubs. Studying living things like our stick insects and Cleopatra the bearded dragon makes learning come alive.”
Maddie is positive about how much the school has supported her to feel ready for the future, explaining, “Our Enrichment lessons were great, with lots of life lessons and life skills development. And of course, my inspirational teachers have helped me to achieve the best grades. I really feel prepared for my next steps.”
Sophia
Sophia is delighted that her fantastic A-level results – A-A* grades in Maths, Chemistry and Psychology – have earned her a place at her first-choice university, Leeds, to study Mathematics.
Sophia explains, “I chose Maths because it’s such a versatile subject and you can do so much with it. I’m not entirely sure what I want to do in the future, but I know that I can have my options open with Maths. It’s also just a really interesting subject – I find it fascinating and I’m excited to get into mathematical research.
A personal journey
Sophia has cherished her time at Blackheath High and particularly the Sixth Form. “Our school is a community where it’s easy to get to know one another and the teachers know the students really well. This is incredibly useful because you get bespoke support for every one of your chosen subjects.”
She says of her favourite memories, “I ran a Dungeons & Dragons game in the school with my friends which was so much fun and allowed me to really use my creativity! I also just really loved my Maths and Psychology classes, and the Prom was such a wonderful way to celebrate the end of our time at Blackheath High School.”
Ready for the next step
When it comes to what’s next, Sophia feels that Blackheath High has prepared her well for life beyond school. “The Wollstonecraft Talks are fantastic because they show us all the different types of jobs that people go into and the experience and ambition you need to get into them. Enrichment lessons and the hugely varied PSHE course are also incredibly useful for learning general life skills, and how to succeed in ways beyond just getting a job.”
