Academic success

Exam success and beyond

We’re the top performing Sixth Form in Berkshire for the academic progress our Sixth Form leavers make and 14th among all boarding schools in England. Our approach shows that balancing high-quality learning (and yes – hard work!) with fun, living adventurously, sports, performing arts, off-curriculum projects and helping others is the best way to achieve academic success.

We want you to really love your learning. We prioritise experiential learning and getting out of the classroom, with a focus on creative problem-solving, interdisciplinary and project-based learning. Equality is one of our core values, so you can call your teachers by their first names and be sure that they’ll be by your side to support and guide you. The teachers lead the classes but everyone’s opinion is important.

After exams, 95% of our Sixth Form students go on to Higher Education. But whatever your ambitions, we’ll do all we can to help you achieve them.

View 2023 leavers' destinations +
Girl wearing science glasses

Top academic progress

Learn about our IBDP success. While some schools only recommend the IB Diploma for their top academic students, Leighton Park’s student-centred approach sees the value of the IB Diploma for any student who enjoys course work and interdisciplinary projects, has an international outlook and doesn’t want to narrow their subjects down at this stage of their education.

57% of A Level grades achieved in Summer 2023 were A*/B. The most recent assessment in the  Government League Tables for Sixth Form students placed Leighton Park in the top 1% of Schools in England and the top performing school in Berkshire for academic progress. Our results in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) subjects are particularly impressive.

For more information on our latest set of A Level results (Summer 2023), please see our news story.

Two girls and a boy using wooden sticks

Helping You Find Your Role in the World

Students are supported by a careers advisor, receive psychometric profiling and can take part in trips to visit former students at the universities they are interested in. Our careers guidance programme includes:

  • Individual and group tutorials
  • Careers Fairs, featuring experts from a broad range of professions including many Old Leightonians
  • Visits to meet our former students who are now studying at leading universities
  • Interview preperation with our impressive network of former students
  • An interview exchange partnership with Lord Wandsworth College
  • Support applying for internships and apprenticeships
  • A programme of inspirational speakers throughout Sixth Form. Learn more about the Oakleaf Diploma.

Moving On to Higher Education

Our students accept offers from many different universities in the UK and abroad. Degree choices are varied but often reflect our strengths in STEAM, Music and Business. The quality of our careers counselling is reflected in 100% of our Oxbridge candidates being invited for interview this year.

Last year 62% went on to STEAM-related degrees and 45% went on to research-intensive Russell Group universities. Students also went on to specialist institutions that are the very best in their disciplines, such as four students going on to conservatoires to study Music.

We offer specialist pathways for students considering:

  • Oxbridge
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Applying to overseas universities

See our leavers’ destinations

Careers support and Aspiring High

Sally

Sally Saunders

Assistant Head: Pupil Personal Development

Sally Saunders has over 22 years experience of working in Education. Sally overseas our university and careers guidance counselling and has qualifications in Careers Education, Information and Guidance as well as being a qualified Careers Leader. She is particularly interested in supporting students with their future decisions and helping them to develop key aspects of their character to prepare them for adulthood. Sally was selected from over 400 applicants to represent the UK as part of the Fulbright Teaching Exchange Programme.
jennifer powlesland

Jenny Powlesland

Assistant Head: Teaching and Learning

Jenny Powlesland has been teaching for fifteen years. Jenny gained her double first undergraduate degree in Modern History and English at Oxford University and completed her PGCE at Oxford. Jenny overseas our Aspiring High Programme, which supports students applying to Oxbridge, Medicine, Law or overseas universities - as well as any student wanting support to apply for challenging programmes.
Helen Taylor

Helen Taylor

Assistant Head: Director of Sixth Form

Helen Taylor has 25 years of teaching experience and completed her PGCSE at Oxford University. Helen manages the Sixth Form Tutor Team, who support our Sixth Form students with their UCAS applications. Helen has one daughter in the Sixth Form at Leighton Park and another at UCL having successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme here.

A truly outstanding school which gave me core values for my future career

Rachael, Old Leightonian

See what our students think

Becky

A, A, A at A Level | Politics & International Relations, University of Exeter

"My experience joining the Sixth Form was extremely welcoming, and I felt that I was able to adjust to a new school really quickly. Of the two years I spent here, there was so much to get involved in, not just for academics, which created such an accepting and lively atmosphere in the school. The friendliness of the students and teachers provides a great environment for learning."
See more case studies +

Michael

A*, A, A at A Level - Music, University of Southampton

"I like how active the School is in the arts and how prominent music and drama are at LP. I like how the school encourages you to be your own person and how the Quaker values are present in all aspects of School life making LP a unique community, not just a school."
See more case studies +

Nuna

41 Points for IB Diploma | Chemical Engineering, Lancaster University

“The best thing about the IB for me has been the community; being able to study with the same group of people, you get really close, even in lockdown everyone was studying together; we had study groups online. We just had to try to get through this weird and difficult time together.”
See more case studies +

Ahmer

A*, A*, A*, A* at A Level with an A* EPQ | Medicine, Imperial College

"Sixth form at LP is a truly unique experience. In the classroom, teachers push you to your academic limits and provide support to develop you beyond them, fuelling a life long passion for your subjects and helping you achieve to the best of your ability. We are encouraged to think 'outside the box', beyond the syllabus and research topics of interest. Not only does LP develop you academically but also as a person."
See more case studies +

related articles

September 21, 2023

Scholars’ Award Ceremony +

The annual Scholars’ Award Ceremony was enjoyed on Wednesday 20th September, celebrating Leighton Park’s 2023-24 Scholars. The event brought together new scholars, their parents and guardians, the school’s leadership team … Read More +

August 24, 2023

GCSE Results Top of the Charts: Grade 9s Up on 2019! +

Head of Leighton Park School, Matthew Judd, congratulated his Year 11s on their iGCSE/GCSE successes this morning, pleased that the results have bucked the national trend. With the media focussing … Read More +

August 17, 2023

Above and Beyond: Leighton Park’s A*-B Grades Exceed Pre-Pandemic Achievements +

Leighton Park School’s Sixth Formers were celebrating this morning as the top A Level grades for A*-B reached 57%, 2% above the 2019 pre-Covid levels.   Matthew Judd, Head, commented … Read More +

How can we help?

Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.

Shinfield Road
Reading
Berkshire, UK
RG2 7DE
+44 (0) 118 987 9600
Request a prospectus Arrange a visit Make an application
Contact Us
I agree with your terms & conditions and privacy policy *
I would like to receive updates from Leighton Park, including updates about upcoming events