According to the UK’s Independent Schools Council (ISC) annual census of 2023, over 25,000 international students were boarding in British independent schools during 2022. A good number of these students arrive via Singapore, with many Singaporeans and Singapore-based ex-pats looking to boost their chances of admission into some of the world’s top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London.
Maths remains the most popular A-level subject in the UK, with statistics from the UK’s gov. website showing over 80,000 Maths A-level exam entrants in ‘22. Revered as a “facilitating” subject, Maths combines well with almost any other subject and can lead to careers in pretty much every industry.
For students looking to study Maths-related subjects at a top British university, it is essential to get a top Maths grade in A-level or the IB Diploma. So which British boarding schools get the best exam results in Maths? Using data compiled by Top School Guide, a UK-based education consultancy, we’ve prepared the following list of the Top 5 boarding schools in the UK for Maths. The table, which also includes the top independent day schools for Maths, can be viewed in full here.
The data combines A-level, Pre-U and IB Diploma (HL) Mathematic exam results to calculate each school’s percentage of A*-A (or equivalent) grades. For statistical viability, we’ve only included boarding schools with over 25 exam entrants in the list.
Here are the Top 5 British boarding schools for Maths:
Average A*-A in Maths, 2022: 98.04%
One of the most well-known boys’ schools in London and the whole of the UK, St Paul’s only has about 40 boarding beds in a school of 1500 boys aged 13+.
Quite simply, boarding spaces there are rarer than hens’ teeth, but the handful of boarders who do win a place are treated to a prestigious education at the top-ranked boys only school in the UK. A modern, liberal, single-sex education does not get much better than this.
Average A*-A in Maths, 2022: 92.49%
Founded in 1560, this co-ed day and boarding school for students aged 13+ has to be amongst the most famous schools in the world.
Far removed from the stuffy stereotypical English boarding school, Westminster School welcomes a diverse and exceptionally capable cohort of students from around the world. Around 200 boarders are joined by 600 day students to make this one of the most buzzing and aspirational independent schools in the world.
Average A*-A in Maths, 2022: 92.31%
Another single-sex school, St Catherine’s Bramley lies within 30 minutes of Heathrow airport and hosts around 140 girl boarders from age 11+. Around half the boarders are international students (overseas nationals or children of British ex-pats.)
Boarders are joined by over 600 of the brightest girls in the local region, and Maths is the most popular A-level subject in 6th form, with 39 exam entries in 2022.
Average A*-A in Maths, 2022: 91.67%
Radley College in Oxfordshire is another all boys school and is about as boarding a boarding school as you can get – every single one of the 760+ pupils is a full boarder. The school welcome students at age 13+, though it helps if you can begin the application process 3 years in advance. The school is highly academically selective, so its impressive Maths A-level results and university destinations come as no real surprise.
Average A*-A in Maths, 2022: 90.00%
Most parents will be familiar with Brighton College, given its presence in Singapore. The original school welcomes its 440 boarders from age 13, and had 120 Maths A-level entrants in 2022.
The college regularly features as one of the top co-ed boarding schools for A-levels. Facilities are outstanding and the atmosphere is welcoming and progressive.
Applying to British boarding schools
As you’d expect, the top-ranked British boarding schools are the most academically selective, so you need to make sure you are applying to the right academic level of school. Applicants for the top schools for Maths will need to display an ability above and beyond the iGCSE or O-Level curriculum, and remember that these schools are also looking for students with personality, humour, and ambition.
Top School Guide can help you identify the best British boarding schools, and support with making the strongest possible applications.
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