Lancashire's Stonyhurst College named the best in the North West as final Progress 8 scores are out

Stonyhurst College says it is proud to announce that it has been recognised as the highest performing Sixth Form provider in the region following the Department for Education’s revised 2024–2025 performance data, released in February.

The Ribble Valley school has achieved an A level progress score of +0.68, which is well above average and the highest out of all secondary schools and colleges in the North West.

What does an A level Progress Score of +0.68 actually mean?

The A level Progress Score shows how much progress pupils make between GCSE and A level compared with pupils nationally who started with similar GCSE results.

A score of +0.68 means that, on average, Stonyhurst pupils achieve almost three-quarters of a grade higher in every A level subject compared with pupils elsewhere in the country who started with similar GCSE results.

To put this into context:

• A score of 0 represents average national progress
• The independent sector average is around +0.11
• Stonyhurst’s score of +0.68 is more than six times higher than the independent sector average

In practical terms, this means pupils at Stonyhurst consistently outperform expectations - not because they start ahead, but because of the progress they make during Sixth Form.

How does this rank nationally?

This places the Ribble Valley college 16th out of 2,540 schools and colleges in England (including all state and independent settings), positioning Stonyhurst within the top 0.6% nationally.

Within the independent sector, Stonyhurst ranks 9th out of 487 schools, firmly placing it among the very highest performing schools in the country for academic progress.

How does this compare to other schools and colleges in Lancashire?

In Lancashire*, the progress scores handed out range from -1.39 to Stonyhurst’s 0.68.

You can find see the top 15 performing schools and colleges in Lancashire* for A levels here.

*By Lancashire, we mean across the whole county so inclusive of schools under Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

What has Stonyhurst said about the achievement?

In an issued statement, a school spokesperon wrote: “These results further reinforce the College’s ALPS Grade 1 for A level awarded last summer, which placed Stonyhurst in the top 1% nationally for value-added progress. Recognition from both the Department for Education and ALPS confirms what families already see: pupils at Stonyhurst do not simply meet expectations - they exceed them.

“Academic standards remain equally strong. The College’s average A level grade stands at 42.25 points, compared to the independent sector average of 39.95 points. At Stonyhurst, high attainment and exceptional progress go hand in hand.

“Rooted in the Jesuit principle of Quant Je Puis – ‘as much as I can’ - success at Stonyhurst is measured not only by grades achieved, but by how far each pupil grows. Academic ambition is paired with close personal guidance, ensuring that every individual is supported to surpass their starting point.

“Compared with other leading schools in the region, the strength of this performance becomes even clearer. Stonyhurst, a non-selective school, achieves grades in line with selective grammar schools, while enabling pupils to make even greater academic progress.

“For families, this means that at Stonyhurst there is no trade-off between strong grades and meaningful personal development - pupils achieve both.

“This success reflects a sustained academic vision: rigorous baseline assessment, precise tracking, targeted intervention and a culture of high expectations, all delivered within a community that knows and supports each pupil individually.”

Learn more about the Sixth Form at Stonyhurst on their website.