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Original poster

Any insight into why LEH's A Level results plummeted this year?

107 replies

ThePlacesYouGo · 20/09/2023 14:02

We were considering LEH for 11+ but already had some reservations (not least a new, untested Head, plus some cultural issues). Then we saw the A Level results which are dramatically down (both on the last comparable, non-Covid years eg 2019 and 2018, and even more drastically down on the past two years) which have really made us pause.

I'd be grateful if any parents with DDs at the school might be able to shed some light. Was it just a "blip" year (I know they do happen, though this one is pretty drastic) or is there something else going on?

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tennissquare · 21/09/2023 15:12

@ThePlacesYouGo , I had noticed their drop in results but other top schools had drops too but maybe not so much. I suspect it's the teachers being complacent due to the 3 years of results being easier to achieve and not marking harshly enough which has been an issue at many schools. The exam boards have been harsher than expected with the marking of exams and return to 2019 grading too.

For anyone interested LEH's Astar to B was 83% with 94 candidates, Surbiton High was 90.5% with 100 plus candidates - website doesn't say, Reeds is 87% with 158 candidates and KGS 89.2% with unknown number of candidates.
I would guess perhaps the LEH cohort was smaller than others and a few weak students can reduce the stats.

circacircle · 21/09/2023 12:47

I noticed a neighbour's daughter ( From LEH) applied for a place in the Sixth Form at Waldegrave School, local state comp which has a better record of getting students into Oxbridge.
LEH has a reputation for being a school for posh girls which I dont think does it self any favours when applying to uni.

Original poster
ThePlacesYouGo · 21/09/2023 12:36

Yes, the new head has just started, so those results were the last head's final year (and she had always done a brilliantly job previously, by all accounts).

I'd be surprised if a school lost all its really bright sparks in one year at 6th form. A lot of schools lose up to 20% but other bright sparks join.

The LEH results are down 50% even on 2019 and 2018 which is really quite sizeable.

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lanthanum · 21/09/2023 12:29

Have local sixth form options changed? Something like a boys sixth form going mixed could have had an effect on their sixth form intake.

lililililililili · 21/09/2023 12:25

Just visited LEH website to see the results as it is pretty local to us and a consideration for 6th form. I thought the head change was from this term so don't think it is relevant. Other girls' schools nearby did not suffer such a drastic fall, so would be interested to know what happened.

Heifer · 21/09/2023 09:22

No experience of LEH but how do the results this year compare to other schools you're interested in? My belief is that all A levels results are down this year and not yet back to pre covid results. I noticed that a university course my DD is going into 2nd year, was in clearing this year offering BBB (or ABC) when DD needed AAB and it's asking for AAB for 2024 so Im guessing they didn't have enough students with the expected results as there weren't any places in clearing last year.

Original poster
ThePlacesYouGo · 21/09/2023 08:13

Bumping this for the morning crowd...

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