There was a wonderful atmosphere across school this morning as Upper Sixth boys returned to collect an outstanding set of A-Level results and celebrate the next stage of their journeys.
Building on the excellent International Baccalaureate results achieved earlier this summer, this year’s leavers have once again achieved remarkable success across a wide range of academic and vocational pathways. Alongside A-Levels, boys also celebrated strong results in BTEC Sport Science and Enterprise & Entrepreneurship.
Overall, around 50% of all examinations were awarded grades A* to A, while 80% grades were marked A* to B, reflecting the talent, hard work and determination of this year’s cohort.
The destinations of leavers are equally impressive. Six boys have secured places at Oxford and Cambridge, while nine of The Times Top 10 Universities of the Year are represented in this year’s university destinations, including Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Imperial College London and University College London. Around a third of the year group will progress to these highly regarded institutions, while several others have secured places on competitive Medicine and Dentistry courses.
As always, the destinations of our leavers reflect the breadth of ambition and talent across the year group. Alongside places at leading universities, boys are pursuing international golf and rugby scholarships, degree apprenticeships, art foundation courses and even specialist flight training.
Outgoing Head Master James Hodgson said, “I am really proud of these boys. They have achieved great results, of course, but it is the range of interests, the quality of their relationships and their readiness for life beyond Bedford which hold such wonder. The atmosphere here at school today was one of mutual respect, of calm appreciation for what lies ahead of them and of gratitude for the years they have shared together. The world is an increasingly complex place, but this is an incredibly impressive bunch of young men and I, for one, am genuinely excited for their future. We are all in good hands.
Stories Behind the Results
Among the many success stories is Sam, who achieved an outstanding four A* grades and will go on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oriel College, Oxford .
Reflecting on the moment he opened his results, Sam said, “I was very relieved when I opened my results this morning. There is a lot of stress in the lead-up to this day after all the work my teachers and I have put into it.”
He was also keen to thank the staff who supported him throughout his university application.
“I was so lucky to have teachers who were willing to take time out to help me with my university application, especially in this last year.”
Harry also has plenty to celebrate after achieving three A* grades in Music, Art and French. He will now head to Trinity College, Cambridge, to study Music.
“Honestly, it was terrifying opening my results this morning,” said Harry. “I woke up a million times in the night thinking it was 8.00am. When the time finally came, I remember checking and having this massive feeling of relief. But I’m very proud of myself and extremely happy.”
Looking back on his Bedford School experience, Harry paid tribute to his teachers.
“The school has helped me in every way. The teachers deserve so much praise for all the extra hours, extra past papers and the support they have given. They have been fantastic and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Samuel, another of the school’s top performers, achieved four A* grades and will go on to study Physics at the University of Bristol.
“My first reaction was, ‘These can’t be mine, these can’t be mine.’ I did way better than I expected,” he said.
Having been part of the Bedford School community since Year 5, Samuel reflected on the opportunities he has been given to pursue his love of science.
“School has given me a place to be curious. It has allowed me to come in early and stay until 6pm if I need to. Last year I took a course on quantum theory because I wanted to do extra and the teachers enabled me to do this. They spotted my passion, which made me want to work hard.”
As he prepares to leave, Samuel admits it will be difficult saying goodbye.
“I’m going to miss the place and the people. I’ve been here since Year 5 and it’s going to be difficult to imagine not coming here every day.”
He added, “All my teachers love their subjects.”
His mother also praised the school’s role in supporting pupils to flourish, “Bedford School is an excellent place to nurture young talent and support boys in so many different ways, both academically and through sport. The level of teaching and development of curiosity is immense.”
Having joined Bedford School in Year 3, James leaves with an impressive set of A-Level results, achieving A*AA and securing a place at the University of Bath to study International Management and Spanish.
Reflecting on his achievements, he is particularly proud of the progress he made in Mathematics, a subject he found challenging during his first year of Sixth Form. Through determination and hard work, he raised his performance to achieve an A grade. “I struggled a lot with Maths in my first year of Sixth Form and really had to push myself to achieve an A. I’m glad I stuck with it and pushed through.”
Throughout his time at Bedford School, he embraced a wide range of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. From rugby, water polo and rowing to Spanish debating, chess club and even drone racing, he made the most of everything school life had to offer.
Looking back on his years at Bedford, he credits the school with helping to shape him into the person he is today. Having spent more than a decade here, he believes the experiences and opportunities available have played a key role in developing his leadership, teamwork and confidence.
He is now looking forward to the next chapter at the University of Bath, where his degree will include an international placement year in Spain or a Spanish-speaking country in South America. It is an opportunity he is particularly excited about as he combines his passion for business and languages on a global stage.
Achieving an outstanding four A* grades, Matteo will be heading to Durham University this autumn to study Law, having secured his place at his first-choice university.
Reflecting on Results Day, Matteo said he was both relieved and delighted. “I was relieved that I got into my firm choice and really happy with my results.”
Matteo credits much of his success to the support he received from staff throughout his Sixth Form journey. “The teachers have been so supportive and helped me loads, especially during Sixth Form.”
Living some distance from Bedford, Matteo chose to become a boarder in his final year, a decision he believes made a significant difference both academically and personally. The structured environment allowed him to focus on his studies while making the most of the school’s extensive co-curricular opportunities.
“Boarding gave me such a good environment to study in, and the extra time meant I could do all the co-curricular activities I wanted to do. It really saved me so much time.”
As he prepares to begin the next chapter at Durham, Matteo says he will miss the friendships and sense of community that have defined his time at Bedford School. “I’m going to miss all my friends here, just being able to see them every day, as well as all the sport, especially rugby.”
As our all our Upper Sixth boys prepare for university, apprenticeships and a wide range of exciting opportunities both in the UK and overseas, we congratulate them on all they have achieved and look forward to following their future successes.
