Borehamwood A level results: 65% at A* or A at Yavneh

Sixth formers across Hertsmere collected their A level results on Thursday 13 August, and the three schools in the borough that published their own figures on the day all reported the majority of grades at A* to B.

Yavneh College in Borehamwood posted the strongest grade profile of the three. Twenty four per cent of all grades were at A, 65 per cent at A or A, 88 per cent at A to B and 97 per cent at A to C, the school said. Two students took A grades in T Level qualifications, the newer technical route that sits alongside A levels.

“To have a massive 65% of all grades at A* or A is a fantastic achievement, particularly given the very high standards these courses demand,” said executive headteacher Spencer Lewis.

Hertswood Academy: 71 per cent at A to C or Distinction to Merit

Hertswood Academy, the large comprehensive on Cowley Hill and the school most Borehamwood families use, publishes a combined measure that counts vocational grades alongside A levels. Seventy one per cent of its sixth formers’ results were at A to C or Distinction to Merit, and 27 per cent were at the equivalence of A* and A, the academy said.

Two Year 12 students took A* grades in A level maths a year early, having sat the exam ahead of their year group.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our Sixth Formers. Seeing them achieve their dreams and take their next big steps, whether to university, apprenticeships, or exciting new careers, is what it’s all about,” said headteacher Wanda Gill. Executive headteacher Peter Gillett called the results “a true reflection of their relentless hard work and determination, as well as the unwavering support of our staff and families”.

Immanuel College, Bushey: 87 per cent at A* to B

At Immanuel College in Bushey, 52 per cent of A levels were graded A to A and 87 per cent A to B, the school reported. Its vocational and project results were stronger still: 88 per cent of BTEC students achieved Distinction to Distinction, all of them reached Distinction to Merit, and every student who completed the Extended Project Qualification was graded A* or A.

The destinations figures are the ones worth reading twice. Seventy seven per cent of applicants secured a place at their first choice university, and 89 per cent are heading to Russell Group universities in the UK or leading US institutions. Named destinations include Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, Bath, Nottingham and Birmingham, with one student taking medicine at Birmingham and another the Tel Aviv Columbia dual degree programme.

“Today is about celebrating our students and everything they have achieved during their time at Immanuel. They have worked extremely hard and should be very proud of their results,” said head Christopher Jones.

Before anyone reads the chart above as a league table, two things need saying. The three schools published different measures: Hertswood’s headline blends A levels with BTECs, so its 27 per cent is an equivalence figure rather than a straight A level grade share. And they admit different intakes. Immanuel College is an independent school that charges fees, sets an entrance exam and offers scholarships and bursaries, as its own admissions pages set out, while Hertswood and Yavneh are state funded.

How Hertsmere compares with the country

Nationally, 28.3 per cent of A levels were awarded at A* or A this summer, up from 28.2 per cent last year, across 835,950 A levels taken by 320,505 students, Ofqual said on results day. Entries grew 2.7 per cent on 2025. The regulator’s summary of the year was blunt: “This year’s results picture is one of stability.”

Measured against that benchmark, Yavneh’s 65 per cent and Immanuel’s 52 per cent at A* or A both sit well clear of the national rate.

What it means for you

If a grade looks wrong, the clock is already running, and the school has to act rather than the student. Exam boards accept requests for reviews of marking only from centres, not from candidates or parents, so the first call is to the school’s exams office. Two deadlines apply this summer, under JCQ rules:

• 20 August 2026 for the priority service, which exists for students whose university place depends on the outcome, with a target of 15 calendar days to complete.
• 24 September 2026 for a standard review of marking, with a 20 day target.

A review needs the candidate’s written consent, and that consent has to be informed, because marks and subject grades “could go down as well as up”. Nobody should submit one without understanding that.

For students who did not get the grades they needed, the sixth form team at their own school holds the Ucas track record and the direct lines to admissions offices, and Clearing runs into the autumn.

Whichever way results day went, the next practical questions are local ones. If a place at university means a first commute, our guide to trains from Borehamwood to London sets out journey times and season ticket prices from all four Hertsmere stations, and if it means staying put and saving, Borehamwood house prices shows what homes in each of the four towns actually sell for.