Cornwall’s Top Sixth Form? Launceston College Ranks 18th in England for A Level Progress

Launceston College has been named the top school for A Level progress in Cornwall and Devon, achieving a 100% pass rate and ranking 18th in England.

Launceston College Leads Cornwall’s A Level Success

Newly released data from the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed Launceston College as the top-performing school for A Level progress in Cornwall and Devon. The rankings, based on how much progress students made from the end of Year 11 to their A Level results, place the college 18th in the whole of England.

The DfE progress scores compare students’ academic growth to those with similar starting points across the country. Launceston College has been rated “well above average” in this measure, highlighting the school’s success in supporting students to achieve beyond expectations.

Outstanding Results and Top Destinations

Launceston College students celebrated a 100% A Level pass rate last summer, with over a third (34%) of grades at A* or A, and 70% at A*-B. Many leavers have gone on to prestigious destinations, including the University of Oxford and degree apprenticeships at companies like Babcock International.

The school’s sixth form provision was relaunched this year as Launceston Sixth, adopting the slogan: Exceptional Teaching, Exceptional Experience. The college emphasises both academic and pastoral support, offering private study facilities exclusively for sixth-formers and fostering independent learning.

Camborne Science and International Academy Also Ranked Highly

Another school in the Athena Learning Trust, Camborne Science and International Academy, has also performed strongly, ranking 4th in Cornwall for A Level progress. The school was awarded an above-average progress score, further reinforcing Athena Learning Trust’s academic strength.

Pride in Student Success

Matthew Thompson, Principal at Launceston College, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students and their outstanding achievements. This recognition highlights the dedication and hard work of both students and staff at Launceston College. Our focus on providing exceptional academic and pastoral support has clearly paid off, and we look forward to seeing our students continue to succeed in their future endeavours.”

A Strong Reputation for Excellence

Launceston College is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted across multiple categories, including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and sixth form provision. Inspectors praised the school’s broad and ambitious curriculum, noting that students build on prior knowledge in a logical way and study qualifications that match their aspirations.

Athena Learning Trust, which operates Launceston College, promotes the values of “Dream Big, Take Responsibility, and Be Kind”, with a mission to provide students with knowledge and opportunities to shape their futures.

For full rankings of Cornwall’s top-performing sixth forms, click here. National rankings can be found here.