Oxford News
West Oxfordshire schools find out A-level results 2026
Data from Ofqual revealed that 28.9 per cent of the district’s exam entries were awarded A or A* grades, up from 25.8 per cent the year before.
This puts it well ahead of Cherwell district with 21.3 per cent of its exam entries receiving the highest two grades but significantly behind the Vale of White Horse on 41.1 per cent.
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Even so, most headteachers appeared happy with their school’s results, wishing their pupils all the best for the future.
Henry Box School in Witney said every English literature, drama, French and religious studies pupil passed with a C grade or above while two-thirds of its geography candidates reached a B or higher.
Headteacher Wendy Hemmingsley said: “I could not be prouder of our Year 13 students.
“These results are the product of real dedication, and there are so many individual achievements across every subject and every pathway this year.
“Whatever comes next, university, an apprenticeship, or the world of work, our students leave us ready to succeed, and we wish them every happiness in the next chapter.”
Rob Shadbolt of Wood Green School congratulated his pupils receiving their A-levels.
Just over 20 per cent of all grades were A* or A while almost three in every four were at least a C.
He said: “Of the 73 applicants to university this year, three-quarters achieved their first choice and a fifth achieved their second choice.
“A number of students have some great employment destinations and others are taking a gap year to consider the right route for them.
“There were some great individual results at all levels.
“I know you will join me in congratulating our students, and thanking staff for the huge amount of work that went into supporting our students to achieve these results and destinations.”
Carterton Community College said its proportion of students achieving three or more A-levels climbed significantly by 26 per cent from last year.
In addition, the proportion of pupils gaining A or A* grades rose by 10.5 per cent and those securing A* to C grades rose by 13 per cent compared to 2025.
Matt Maudsley, headteacher called the results “clear evidence of a sea change”.
He added: “Despite a very challenging year, it is great to acknowledge the progress that has been made in our Post-16 results.
“These latest figures solidify Carterton Community College’s position as an improving institution.
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“They prove that targeted academic interventions and student determination are yielding success, although there is still a significant amount of work required to further improve academic outcomes.”
Meanwhile 45 per cent of all A Level, BTEC and CTEC grades at Kingham Hill School in Chipping Norton were A* or A, significantly above the national average of 28.5 per cent.
Headteacher Pete Last said: “It has been a privilege to watch these young people grow in confidence and character as they have flourished during their time at the school.
“I am delighted to see them begin the next chapter of their lives with such strong foundations.”
One of the students, Georgia, said she was “really relieved that the wait is finally over”, as she secured her place to study biomedical science at the University of Sheffield, having achieved three A grades in Biology, Chemistry and Maths.
Dr Sarah Squire, the headteacher of Cokethorpe School, said she was “immensely proud” of their Sixth Form cohort.
Students from the Witney-based school achieved 18 per cent of grades at A*, 48 per cent at A* or A and 77 per cent awarded at A* to B, the school’s strongest results in recent years.
She said: “These results reflect their hard work and commitment, and are a great cause for celebration.
“But today is also about celebrating the remarkable young adults they have become.
“Our Year 13s have enriched life at Cokethorpe, whether through nurturing younger pupils as peer mentors, championing house events, organising a charity clothes swap or debating passionately.
“Grades are an important measure of success, but we are equally proud of the wider journeys our students have taken, and we are excited to follow their next steps.”
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Her head of 6th Form, Ed Tolputt, added that he was “delighted” with this year’s results.
He said: “I am not surprised about their success by I am incredibly pleased for them.
“They took ownership of their learning, supported each other and took really good advantage of the support available for them.”
On Wednesday, September 2, it was the Concours judging and private viewings to dominate the agenda for the day.
Twelve Concours classes were held across almost a century of motoring, including The Golden Age of Motoring, 100 Years of Carrrozzeria Touring, La Dolce Vita, 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura and Passione Ferrari.
Two new classes also made their debut for 2026, Rare Breeds of the Digital Age and Hypercar Heaven, which recognise the growing importance of contemporary performance cars within the international collector market.
Judging will take place across Wednesday and Thursday, with the show field bringing together a 70-strong collection of classics, supercars and hypercars from around the world.
Some of the cars include Aa Maserati 8C 3000, Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta, a one-off Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale, a very early Porsche 356 Split Window Coupé, Aston Martin DB3S, Lamborghini Miura P400S, Bizzarrini 5300GT, Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet, Bugatti EB110 Prototype, Aston Martin Valiant Prototype and the extraordinary Bugatti Bolide, one of just 40 produced worldwide.
Helen Pike has decided to step down as Master of Magdalen College School at the end of the 2026/27 academic year, the school in east Oxford announced in March.
MCS is one of the top performing schools in the country, ranking in the top 20 independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026.
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The new academic year will start next week, with Ms Pike preparing for one more year in charge before she hands over to her successor, who will take over in September 2027.
The first female Master at MCS, Ms Pike guided the board of governors to one of the most significant decisions in the school’s history, to become fully co-educational from 2027.
While there has been a co-educational sixth form at the school for 15 years, the school last month announced it will become fully co-educational over the coming decade.
Ms Pike said earlier: “I love MCS, and it is a perennial privilege to lead this remarkable school.
“Being Master of MCS is a brilliant job, and I am declaring my intention early in order to give MCS the very best opportunity to find the right Master for September 2027. I shall continue to do all in my power to further the fortunes of this wonderful school until then.
“I look forward to a new phase in my own professional life, one that builds on all that I have enjoyed and achieved in my career during the past 30 years.
“Having encouraged many cohorts of pupils to take sensible risks and to do something creative and different when the time feels right, I am doing just that.”
During Ms Pike’s tenure, MCS has been recognised as a Top 20 Independent School and South East School of the Year by the Sunday Times and won Independent School of the Year for Social Mobility.
Thanking her in his letter to the school community, chair of governors, Bob Price, said earlier this year: “Helen is an outstanding leader and will go with our sincere gratitude and warm thanks for her exceptional headship.
“She will leave the school in excellent shape for her successor.”
Recruitment for a replacement for Ms Pike is now under way.
Last month, Ms Pike congratulated pupils on their “outstanding success” in this year’s A-Level exams, after more than a quarter of pupils (43) achieved three A*s or more and 25 secured all A*s.
In total, 39 pupils from the 2026 cohort are heading to Oxbridge, while 22 have secured places to study medicine.
As part of the school’s expansion plans, MCS is preparing to build a new Science, Library and Partnerships building.
A spokeswoman said the new building will offer an exciting opportunity to reimagine the senior school site as staff look ahead to full co-education.
She added earlier: “With a vision to create a sector-leading science building in the centre of Oxford, the development will enable us to support an ambitious and forward-looking science curriculum, expanding to the emerging and rapidly advancing areas of robotics, AI and Big Data.”
Holding banners which read ‘For f**k’s sake, just stop oil’, the demonstrators took to the road in Parliament Square at noon today (Wednesday, September 2).
This was as Andy Burnham faced his first Prime Minister’s Questions, and many of the protestors glued themselves to the road.
The group demanded that the UK government stop approving all further oil and gas developments, and sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty to stop oil and gas extraction.
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Just Stop Oil say that the police are expected to arrest all those blocking the road, and that one lane has been left free of glued-on action takers to permit access for emergency vehicles.
Andy Burnham is due to make a decision on whether to allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
Reverend James Crote, a Baptist Minister and grandfather from Chesterton near Bicester, said: “Today is my grandson’s first birthday. I have to take action for the sake of his future.
The 69-year-old added: “The government has been dilly-dallying about whether to say yes or no to the Rosebank oil field but, if we want a future for our children, there is no choice – it has to say ‘no’.
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“I am here as a Christian Minister because the Church has to speak out and demand that the government stops approving further oil and gas developments now. It’s time for us all to say ‘For God’s sake, Just Stop Oil’.”
Data from the Met Office indicates that 2026 was the hottest summer in UK recorded history, beating 2025, which was the previous hottest summer on record.
2026 was also one of the driest summers on record, delivering record-low food harvests.
Climbing temperatures have triggered wildfires across the country, and national fire chiefs said the wildfire risk facing the UK is “like nothing we have seen before”.
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Taking action, grandmother Victoria Ann Lynch-Staunton from Leamington Spa, said: “What is happening is beyond a tragedy.”
The 71-year-old added: “I beg everyone to join Just Stop Oil or governments will continue to prioritise endless growth and corporate profit over billions of lives – yours and your children.
“Wake up and smell the coffin. It is the responsibility of all of us to act now!”
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said today: “We are all Just Stop Oil.
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“Every single person who fears deadly wildfires, devastating droughts, and spiralling food shortages is Just Stop Oil.
“The first duty of government is to keep the public safe – but by greenlighting oil and gas drilling, they endanger our survival while corporates and billionaires laugh their way to the bank.
“Every one of us feels alone and powerless in the face of this insanity, but we know there is massive political and public support for our demand.
“So we’re inviting everyone to join us at an online call on 3rd October 2026 – because it’s when we work together that we are powerful and win.”
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