By Carole Dennett
The Isle of Wight’s A level results this year include some outstanding individual achievements, but the wider picture is best understood by looking at the trend. After many years in which the Island’s brightest pupils were too often let down by an underperforming system, there are at last some green shoots of improvement – although there remains a long way to go.
At the very top, the proportion of pupils achieving A* grades rose from 4.6 per cent in 2025 to 6 per cent in 2026. This remains below the national figure of 9.7 per cent and a long way from the South East average of 11.3 per cent, but the upward movement is a welcome and suggests a stronger performance among the Island’s highest-attaining pupils.
The grades needed for entry to selective universities – B and above – also improved. 41.8 per cent of pupils reached this level last year, rising to 43.8 per cent this year. Nationally, the figure stands at 56.4 per cent, so again, the gap remains significant, but the direction of travel is positive.
The only area of slight decline was E and above – the overall pass mark – which dipped from 96.3 per cent to 95.5 per cent. This remains close to the national picture .
Taken together, the results show the Island may be beginning to shift upwards after years of stagnation. High-grade attainment is improving, and more pupils are reaching the levels required for competitive university entry. But the Island still trails behind England overall, and sustained improvement will be needed before the gap truly closes.
You can check the results for individual subjects by clicking here.
Mal Butler