The phrase ‘quite exceptional’ hardly seems to do justice to what has been a record-breaking year for Churcher’s College but it seems to work well for a group of quietly capable and delightfully charming young men and women who have achieved so much over their time here.

Brentwood School’s Claudia Moore has added an individual bronze medal to her team gold gong at the Pony European Championships held at Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire.

The reformed A levels continued to emphasise increased stretch and challenge; and we are delighted that Merchiston has once again delivered excellence in this new context, going way beyond the national average across the board.

Recognised as the top school in Berkshire and in the top 40 nationally by Government’s new league tables for Sixth Form progress, Leighton Park staff and students already had cause to celebrate the success of their Sixth Form education. Even so, it was a delight to see so many smiling faces on the Park today as excited students grabbed their brollies and braved the downpours to collect their A level results.

Llandovery College is celebrating another set of excellent A level results with an impressive increase in the number of boys and girls achieving A*–A grades.

Haileybury is celebrating a strong set of A level results. Over a fifth of Haileybury A level pupils scored straight A* or A grades; the number of A* grades awarded at A level – 37 in total – is amongst the highest in the school’s history.