Blackheath High School A-level students celebrate another record-breaking year
- 84% of grades awarded A*-B
- 61% of grades awarded A*-A
- 89% of students received an A* or A grade
A-LEVEL RESULTS
Blackheath High School is delighted to announce record-breaking results in 2026, with 61% of grades awarded A*-A, 84% of grades awarded A*-B and 17% awarded the highest A* grade. An outstanding 89% of students received an A* or A grade.
STEM pathways continue to be strong, with students progressing to study Medicine, Biomedicine, Medical Biosciences, Mathematics, Therapeutic Radiology, Environmental Geoscience and Product Design & Engineering, alongside Aeronautics and Astronautics, at leading universities across the country.
Mathematics students across the school excelled, with two girls achieving exceptional results ahead of schedule: Year 11 student Ellie achieved an A* at A-level, while Year 10 student Daisy secured an A in AS-level Maths.
Arts subjects also flourished, with Drama, Art, Design Technology, Textiles and Music awarded 80% A*-A grades, reflecting the strong creative culture of the school. Languages also achieved 100% A*-B grades.
An upwards trajectory
These results are the highest in the school’s history and represent an 89% relative increase since 2019, reflecting the highly aspirational academic environment fostered at Blackheath High School.
Head, Natalie Argile commented, “I am immensely proud of every single one of our remarkable students. These A-level results are testament to their ambition and determination, alongside the expertise, inspiration and unwavering support of their teachers. What really stands out is the extraordinary breadth of their achievements. There is no single definition of success at Blackheath High – we encourage every girl to find her own spark and give her the support, intellectual challenge and opportunities to pursue it. These students have worked incredibly hard for these fantastic results and are now heading in wonderfully different directions. Today, we are celebrating not only what they have achieved, but the confident, curious and bold young women they have become.”
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
- University of Oxford
- Top London universities, including Imperial College London, UCL, City St George’s and King’s College London
- Russell Group universities, including Leeds, Exeter, Edinburgh and Southampton
- Specialist courses at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Courtauld Institute of Art
Students will follow their own unique paths to study a hugely diverse range of subjects including Medicine, Biomedicine, Mathematics, Economics, History, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Therapeutic Radiology and Environmental Geographical Science.
Pathways this year include:
- Medicine – University of Oxford
- History – University of Cambridge
- History of Art – Courtauld Institute of Art
- Italian & Linguistics – University of Edinburgh
- Psychology – University of Exeter
- Aeronautics and Astronautics – Loughborough University
- Therapeutic Radiology – City St Georges, University of London
- Fashion – Kingston School of Art
- Medical BioSciences – Imperial College London
- The Art of Computer Animation – Escape Studios
An outstanding year for EPQ
An outstanding 84% of Extended Project Qualifications were graded at A*-A. These independent research projects, equivalent to half an A-level, give students the opportunity to tackle topics they are passionate about, from researching scientific breakthroughs to creating short films or designing inventions.
This year’s topics ranged from an exploration of the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the NHS, a podcast on the importance of current affairs when teaching History to younger students, and a report into role of the UK media in shaping perceptions of Meghan Markle.
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:
Gloria
Gloria – a passion for Medicine
Gloria joined her two older sisters at Blackheath High School, entering Year 7 from Fairlawn Primary School. Drawn by its friendly atmosphere, strong sense of academic ambition and small class sizes which allowed for closer relationships with teachers, she quickly felt like she had found her home.
Following outstanding A-level results – A* Biology and Chemistry and A in Maths and Spanish, Gloria will take up her place at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, to study Medicine, with the ambition of one day becoming a neonatal paediatric consultant. She also achieved an A* in her EPQ, which explored the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the NHS.
Embracing every challenge
An Academic Scholar, Gloria consistently challenges herself, winning a prestigious Gold CREST Award for her EPQ, receiving a Gold Award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, Silver Awards in both the UK Chemistry Olympiad and Intermediate Biology Olympiad, and completing many piano grade exams.
Her life beyond the classroom has been equally busy. Throughout her time at Blackheath High, Gloria has sung with Chamber Choir, The Rollin’ Tones and Vocalise; supported younger students as a Peer Mentor, Year 7 Prefect and Head of Paragon House; and nurtured her passion for science as Chemistry Subject Prefect, founder of Dissection Society and co-leader of First Aid Society.
Finding her spark
Gloria credits Blackheath High with nurturing her passion for Medicine. Alongside the school’s bespoke competitive admissions programme, she attended the GDST Oxbridge Conference at Clare College, Cambridge, where she gained invaluable insight into university life.
She says, “it was one of the most impactful things I have ever done. The Medicine-specific talks gave me advice on preparing for the UCAT and I got to take part in a mock Case-Based Learning session, which is the type of teaching used in most medical schools – which then gave me content for my personal statement. It was an incredible insight into university life.”
Looking to the future
Gloria loved her Sixth Form experience, where she truly found her path. “The teachers are one of the best things about Blackheath High – they are so approachable and they were all willing to support me with my Medicine interviews, giving up their free time to help me – I will never forget that.
“I love the more relaxed style of teaching and the close-knit classes, which foster a close-knit and interactive environment. And I feel like Sixth Form helped me with some many life skills – teamwork, organisation skills, leadership, communication, budgeting and learning how to take constructive feedback and build on it.”
Ananya
Ananya – Future Economist
Joining Blackheath High in Year 7 from Gatehouse School, Ananya was drawn by the school’s outstanding Art department and inspired by the positive experiences of her older sister, who was two years above her. Six years later, she leaves with A grades in History and Economics, and an A* in Art, alongside an A-graded EPQ exploring the role of the UK media in shaping public perceptions of Meghan Markle.
Ananya leaves us to study Economics at the University of Sheffield, attracted by the subject’s relevance to the world around us and the opportunity to apply economic thinking to real-life issues. Her EPQ also helped prepare her for the academic challenges of university study, as it required independence, motivation and discipline.
Making the most of every opportunity
Ananya has embraced many of the opportunities Blackheath High has to offer over her time here. An Art Scholar and recipient of the Lucy Forrest Art Scholarship, she was also an Art Subject Prefect in Year 12 and played guitar in Rock Band until Year 11. She has proudly represented the school in netball, completed both Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, and spent many happy hours supporting younger pupils at the Junior School After School Club.
Reflecting on Sixth Form, Ananya says some of her happiest memories were made in the close-knit community, whether playing sport or spending time with friends in the common room as everyone planned their next steps. “I really like that Blackheath High is a smaller school because people know you well, especially in Sixth Form. It’s a place where individuality is encouraged and listened to, and that’s helped me grow in confidence and prepare for what’s next.”
Preparing for the future
Thinking about the teaching style, Ananya particularly appreciated the discussion-based teaching and small-group learning style “which allow for debate and deeper thinking when you’re thinking about new concepts and information – really important as get to grips with the move from GCSE to A-level.
“I also didn’t realise how much I would value the way Blackheath High gives us so many life skills to use in our future lives such as learning basic car maintenance, cooking skills and financial literacy. I feel more prepared for life beyond school now.”
Eva
Eva – a passion for global development
Eva joined Blackheath High in Year 3 from River House Montessori School. From her very first taster day, she remembers feeling welcomed and at home in the school community.
Now, after receiving A grades in Geography and Textiles at A-level, a B in Biology and an A for her EPQ exploring the question ‘Should volcano tourism be banned?’, Eva will be taking up a place at the University of Manchester to study Human Geography. With a particular interest in social inequality, global development and geopolitics, she hopes eventually to pursue a career where she can make a difference, ideally in global development or international relations.
Discovering new passions
Eva has made the most of the many opportunities to explore her passions. A keen netball player, she continued playing throughout Sixth Form, valuing the chance to enjoy sport and spend time with friends beyond the classroom. She also discovered her passion for Textiles and garment-making when she joined Fashion Society in Year 9. Inspired to take the subject at A-level, she went on to design and create her own final collection and take part in the prestigious Fashion Show, working with models from Years 7 to 13.
Eva has also supported younger pupils as Senior Prefect, listening to their ideas about school life and representing their views.
A new perspective on the world
One of the defining experiences of Eva’s time at Blackheath High happed in the summer of 2024 when she spent four weeks with fellow students on an expedition to Peru, taking part in community projects, learning about local culture and completing a five-day trek to Machu Picchu.
The experience had a lasting impact on how she saw the world and ultimately helped shape her plans for the future. “Building ramps and planting trees in the orchard felt so simple but they made such a huge difference to the communities we stayed in. The really changed my perspective on the world and has definitely influenced my next steps.”
Her growing interest in social inequality, development and geopolitics has led her towards Human Geography and an ambition to use what she learns to make a difference in the future.
Finding her voice
Looking back, Eva believes one of the biggest changes during her years at Blackheath High has been in herself. She says, “My time at Blackheath has turned me from a shy and extremely nervous person into someone who isn’t afraid to voice their opinions and ask questions. I think a lot of that comes down to the relationships I’ve built, particularly in the Sixth Form – we’re a really close community.”
Eva also enjoyed the more independent style of Sixth Form learning, with smaller classes creating a seminar-like environment where questions, discussion and debate are actively encouraged. Just as important are the close relationships students build with their teachers. “The teachers at Blackheath High are truly some of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met. Each one of them will go out of their way to help us succeed in whatever we want to do.”
Looking to the future
Leaving the community she has grown up in will inevitably be bittersweet. Eva says “I’m going to miss the sense of community and the amazing friends and teachers I have at Blackheath, but I’m excited for the next steps and feel well prepared for life at university and beyond.”
From the nervous Year 3 pupil arriving for her first taster day to a confident young woman ready to study the global issues that fascinate her, Eva’s journey is a lovely example of what it means to find your own path at Blackheath High.
