Winstanley College ranked joint fourth in the country
Winstanley College students are celebrating another year of outstanding success after the Class of 2026 received their results.
A-level success
The overall A-level pass rate was 98.8% (national figure 97.9%). A hugely impressive 63.0% of students achieved A* to B grades at A-level (national figure 56.6%) and 31.0% achieved A*-As (national figure 28.8%).
These superb student outcomes are reflected in the College's national standing in The Telegraph's recently-published ranking of the best sixth forms and colleges. Winstanley is joint fourth best in the country for A-level grades (20 August 2026).
The figures show*:
- Hills Road Sixth Form College - 38/40, B+, Very Good
- St. Dominic's Sixth Form College - 36/40, B, Very Good
- Loreto College - 35/40, B, Very Good
- Winstanley College - 34/40, B, Very Good
- Carmel College - 34/40, B, Very Good
- Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, 33/40, B, Very Good
- Cardinal Newman College, 33/40, B, Very Good
- The College of Richard Collyer in Horsham, 33/40, B-, Very Good
- Greenhead College, 33/40, B-, Very Good
- Peter Symonds College, 31/40, B-, Very Good
*All data is for the 2024-25 academic year. The ratings of Very Good, Good, Fair, Below Average and Poor are derived by how a college compares to the average across the country. Each grade is scored between 0 for a fail and 60 for an A*. So, if a college had an average A-level score of 40, that would mean that, on average, students were awarded a B.
Vocational success
In vocational courses, 72.3% of students achieved Distinction*-Distinction. In Double Award subjects, 87.5% of students achieved Distinction*/Distinction*-Distinction/Distinction. This is another brilliant achievement. In particular, 47.5% of students on the College's new T-level in Media, Broadcast and Production obtained a Distinction, which is over 35% above the national figure!
Destinations
These results have enabled students to progress to outstanding destinations, including apprenticeships, employment and higher education. The latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) report shows that 85.8% of students who went to university graduated with a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours Degree. This is considerably above the figure for all Sixth Form Colleges (79.2%) and the whole of the state sector (78,2%)^.
^Report published August 2026, showing data for the 2024-25 academic year.
Overall success
These remarkable achievements have topped a memorable year for the College, which has seen a surge in demand for places, as many students continue to choose the College as their pathway to apprenticeships, employment and university.
- Among the highlights of the year were:
- Individual and team successes in competitions and on the sports field.
- Support for worthy causes, such as foodbank donations, Macmillan Coffee Morning, Movember and CoppaFeel!
- Concern for others and the wider community, through events such as Brew Monday, the Big Knit, Mental Health Awareness Week, and opportunities to engage with our Nurture Room Mentors, Hillvale Animals and our therapy dog, Rocky.
- An interest in the wider world, in events such as Spirit Week, Show Racism the Red Card, Remembrance Day, Holocaust Memorial Day, VE Day, and through the work of our Eco Committee and Amnesty International.
- Events that celebrated diversity and inclusivity, such as Culture Day, Black History Month, OCD Awareness Week, International Pronouns Day, International Women’s Day, International Men’s Day, Young Carers Autism Day, ADHD Awareness Month and LGBTQ History Month.
However, the pinnacle of the year was when the College hosted BBC's Question Time, affording members of our local community the chance to speak to a number of candidates in the Makerfield by-election. We also hosted a Manchester Evening News hustings event, which gave students, staff and members of the public a further opportunity to ask questions of the candidates.
Both events gave our students the opportunity to take part in events that had major prominence on the national stage. For example, our T-level Media, Broadcast and Production students had the opportunity to observe and participate directly in the production of these events. It was also brilliant to see our students engage so thoughtfully and enthusiastically in the events through the way they posed questions to the candidates.
Principal of the College, Simon Lett, said:
“These events from last year highlight a key point about Winstanley College. When students come here, they don't just achieve fantastic qualifications - they also get an opportunity to develop important skills for the workplace and the chance to develop their understanding of the wider world.
"I am immensely proud of our students for their excellent achievements in this year’s results. These grades reflect their hard work and resilience, but also the dedicated support of our teaching and support staff. I wish the Class of 2026 all the very best as they progress to the next stage in their education and training, and look forward to welcoming them into our ever-growing alumni community."
Winstanley College will be celebrating its 50th anniversary as a Sixth Form College in 2027. More details about this will be announced shortly.
