SUMMARY
Combined IB Higher Level Points (out of 7) and A Level Grades
| Year | A*/7 | A*-A/7-6 | A*-B/7-5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 61 | 85 |
| 2021 | 24 | 57 | 82 |
| 2020 | 18 | 51 | 82 |
| 2019 | 8 | 36 | 68 |
| 2018 | 10 | 42 | 78 |
| Mean | 18 | 49 | 79 |
IBDP results alone have been as follows:
| Year | Cohort average/ 45 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2021 | 38 |
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| Mean | 35 |
A mean of 35 out of 45 points is higher than both the global and UK averages.
A Level results alone have been as follows:
| Year | Cumulative % | ||||||
| A* | A | B | C | D | E | U | |
| 2023 | 12 | 42 | 74 | 90 | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| 2022 | 25 | 56 | 82 | 93 | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| 2021 | 20 | 52 | 79 | 94 | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| 2020 | 14 | 42 | 77 | 96 | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| 2019 | 7 | 33 | 65 | 88 | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| 2018 | 8 | 37 | 74 | 93 | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Mean | 15 | 45 | 75 | 92 | 98 | 100 | 100 |
IBDP EXAMINATION REPORT 2023
Bradfield College is once again delighted to announce an excellent set of IB Diploma results. All of our candidates achieved the full IB Diploma and three of our pupils achieved the coveted Bilingual Diploma.
In line with other exam boards, the IB had widely communicated an ambition to bring grade distributions back in line with pre-pandemic levels and the global average has dropped accordingly. This, combined with tougher examinations than the May 2022 session where content was reduced and papers adapted to account for lockdown disruption, meant that we were expecting lower outcomes than last year’s record results. However, we are delighted to note that this adjustment has been much less pronounced than we expected and our impressive 35.8 point average, compared to 30.2 globally, is a testament to the energy and resilience of our pupils and staff.
The Bradfield IB cohort has also outperformed our closest UK competitors (the UK average is 34.7). Over a quarter of our pupils have achieved 40 points or more, widely considered to be the gold standard for IB students worldwide and above almost any university requirements. In years gone by, we might have highlighted the 60% of our pupils that have achieved over 34 points, since that was the typical entry level for most Russell Group universities. However, the long term credibility of the IB qualification is such that many such institutions are now accepting scores in the region of 32 points. 74% of pupils at Bradfield achieved 32 points or above. The courage of the IB to reduce global points this year strengthens that hard won credibility with universities and is therefore something we welcome.
Our IBDP pupils have a breadth of interest that reflects the values of the College itself and we wish them well in further studies in Politics, Economics, Classics, Business, International Relations, Sports Science, Biomedical Science, Engineering, Languages, History, Psychology and Mathematics, at top universities across the UK, Europe and the United States. Destinations include competitive courses at UCL, Durham, Nottingham, Newcastle, Exeter, Birmingham and Northeastern University. We are quite sure that their new status as IB Diploma alumni will stand them in excellent stead for a bright future in an ever changing world.
Colin Irvine,
Director of IB
A LEVEL EXAMINATION REPORT 2023
Following public examinations for the first time since 2019 without modification, pupils at Bradfield have returned outstanding A Level results. 11.3% of grades were A*, 40% A*/A, and 73% A* – B, which is a great achievement in the context of grading nationally dropping back to pre-pandemic levels. This cohort’s performance mirrors the similarly excellent return from those studying the IB Diploma Programme whose mean score was 36 points, with one pupil scoring the maximum 45 points putting them in the top 1% of all candidates globally. Perhaps even more important than the grade levels themselves, these results are testament to a group of young people who have thrived, having worked incredibly hard in some of the most trying circumstances.
Five pupils secured 3 A*s or higher (AS level in parentheses) including Darryl who returned A*A*A*A(A*) and heads to Imperial to read Electronic and Information Engineering and Gabriel who returned A*A*A*A(A*) and is also heading to Imperial to read Computing. The others in this category are:
| Olivia | A*A*A*A | UCL | Biomedical Science |
| Alexander | A*A*A* | Bristol | International Social and Public Policy |
| Imogen | A*A*A* | Exeter | Art History and Visual Culture |
A further six pupils secured two A*s:
| Oliver A | A*A*A A | Durham | Mathematics |
| Richard | A*A*A A | Queen Mary | Liberal Arts |
| Matilda | A*A*A | Leeds | Film |
| Poppy | A*A*A | Durham | English Literature |
| Henry | A*A*A | Leeds | Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Joseph | A*A*A | Manchester | Physics with Astrophysics |
Considering our leavers’ university destinations more generally, 75% of UCAS applicants have secured places at their first-choice university and 21% have taken up their insurance offers. Other pupils are seeking places through clearing or planning to make applications during their GAP years. Although most pupils will take up places in the UK, it is very much an international arena with a significant group headed overseas, to the US, Canada and Europe such as Stanford (USA), Bocconi (Italy) and McGill (Canada).
Elizabeth Wells, Deputy Head (Academic) said, “We are incredibly proud of this year group who have shown determination and calm resilience over the last two years to produce these excellent results. These results are testament to the diligence of our pupils and the skill of their teachers and support staff.”
Dr Chris Stevens, Headmaster said, “The 2023 leavers worked stoically through years of covid disruption and sat public exams for the first time in their final term. Their success is a fitting reward for their diligence and their many talents. I salute their achievements and the great efforts of their teachers. We all wish the leavers the very best for the future.”
