Epsom College has achieved its strongest ever set of examination results, marking another milestone in what The Sunday Times recently recognised as the UK’s “most improved school” performance over recent years.
The 2025 cohort delivered exceptional outcomes across both A-levels and GCSEs, continuing a remarkable five-year trajectory of sustained improvement that – in the Sunday Times 2024 Parent Power rankings – saw the College rise 116 places.
Record-Breaking A-level Performance
This year’s A-level students achieved outstanding results, with 91% securing A*-B grades – the highest proportion in the College’s history. An impressive 62% of students attained A*-A grades, while more than one in three pupils achieved a clean sweep of A* and A grades across all their subjects.
These results represent a significant milestone in the College’s academic journey. Over the past four years, the proportion of students achieving A*-B grades has risen steadily from 85% to this year’s record 92%, demonstrating consistent progress and the strength of the College’s educational approach.
Exceptional GCSE Outcomes
The College’s GCSE students equally excelled. 87% of all exams were graded 9-7, while 67% got the top grades 9-8 – another record high.
Particularly noteworthy was the fact that half of all GCSE students secured straight grades 9-7 across all their subjects.
The GCSE improvements have been noticeably striking, with the proportion of students achieving grades 9-7 rising from 74% four years ago to this year’s 86% – a 12-percentage point improvement that reflects the College’s commitment to academic excellence across all year groups.
National Recognition and Context
These outstanding results build upon The Sunday Times‘ recent recognition of Epsom College as having delivered “one of the most eye-catching performances” in UK independent education. In its 2024 Parent Power league tables, the newspaper highlighted the College’s ascent of 116 places in national rankings as the biggest single-year rise, leading to its designation as Southeast Independent School of the Year (highly commended).
The achievement is significant given the highly competitive educational landscape in the Southeast region, which The Sunday Times notes contains 75 of the UK’s top 100 schools. The College currently sits 61st nationally and is ranked as the 19th best independent school in the Southeast.
The College looks set for another rise when league tables are published toward the end of the year.
University Destinations and Future Pathways
The strength of this year’s results is reflected in university destinations, with 90% of students securing places at one of their top choice institutions. Durham, Exeter, Bath, UCL and Imperial College London were among the most popular destinations, demonstrating the breadth and quality of opportunities available to Epsom College graduates.
The College’s careers and higher education team worked closely with students throughout the results process, ensuring comprehensive support for those securing first-choice places and providing expert guidance for students exploring alternative pathways.
Pupils’ Hard Work and Parents’ Support
Commenting on the exceptional outcomes, Mark Lascelles, Head of Epsom College, praised the dedication shown by both students and staff: “Although I had just one year with these year groups, their hard work, dedication and commitment to perform at the highest level was obvious from the outset. They are a special group of pupils who were a pleasure to spend time with – well-disciplined and intrinsically motivated – and they have proved to be extravagantly talented in and out of the classroom.”
Mr Lascelles emphasised the holistic nature of the students’ achievements: “They excelled in sport, music, art and drama and these excellent exam results are a fitting reward for their years of hard work and dedication. I would like to thank our outstanding staff for the inspiration and encouragement that they have provided and our parents for their unwavering support over the years.”
Looking Forward
These results represent more than individual achievement – they reflect the strength of the College’s educational philosophy and community spirit. As The Sunday Times noted in their assessment, the College’s success stems from “being relentlessly positive and thinking ahead and having a focus on each individual child”.
As the successful A-level students embark on the next stage of their academic and professional journeys, and GCSE students begin their A-level studies, these exceptional results provide a strong foundation for continued success.
GCSE Results Day
A-level Results Day
