42% of Barnet's GCSE grades this summer were 7 or above, against 21.8% nationally and 28.6% in London. The provisional figures, A-level update and what comes next.
42% of GCSE grades awarded in Barnet this summer were at grade 7 or above. That is almost twice the national figure of 21.8%, and well ahead of London’s 28.6%.
The figures are provisional. Barnet Council published them on 30 September in a statement on the 2025-26 results. They are based on returns from 26 of the borough’s 28 schools with Year 11 pupils.
The GCSE figures
| Measure | Barnet | London | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades at 7 or above | 42% | 28.6% | 21.8% |
| Grades at 4 or above | 82% | 71.7% | 67% |
| Pupils with grade 4 or above in both English and maths | 79% | not given | not given |
Grade 4 is the “standard pass”. The London and national comparisons are the ones the council quotes. It did not give comparators for the English and maths measure.
A-levels: a fuller count
The same statement updates the A-level picture, now with returns from 27 of the borough’s 29 schools and colleges with Year 13 students:
- 39% of A-level grades were A* or A, against 28.5% nationally and 32.7% in London
- 84% were A* to C, against 78.4% nationally
- 97% were A* to E, in line with the national average
In August, with returns from 22 sixth forms, the council put the A* to A share at 40%. Our A-level results report explains why the council’s national comparator is slightly higher than Ofqual’s figure for England.
Some schools reported their highest-ever numbers of Distinction* and Distinction grades in vocational courses, the council says. T Levels, now in their second year in Barnet, are taught at Saracens High School and Barnet and Southgate College.
Primary schools too
The statement says results at earlier stages were also above national levels, and “generally higher” than London. By the end of Key Stage 2, at age 11, Barnet’s attainment was in the top quarter nationally.
Progress between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 was particularly strong, the council says. In every subject, it provisionally places Barnet in the top 5% or top 10% of areas nationally.
Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb, Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, said the results “reflect the hard work of pupils, teachers, school staff, governors and families throughout Barnet”.
Read the borough figure with care
A borough average mixes very different schools. Barnet has selective grammar schools, independent schools and comprehensives. One of the grammars, Queen Elizabeth’s School, has just been rated Exceptional in all seven areas by Ofsted.
So a comprehensive below 42% at grade 7 may still be doing very well for its intake. The fairer test for a single school is its own published results and its progress measures, not the borough headline.
These are also the council’s collation of what schools sent in, not an official publication. Two schools had not returned GCSE data.
What it means for you
- Final figures come later this term. The council says confirmed results will be published in the autumn term.
- School-by-school data appears on the government’s Compare school and college performance service once the national figures are confirmed. That is the place to compare individual schools.
- A full report on results in Reception and Years 1, 4, 6, 11 and 13 goes to the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee in March 2027.
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