Best A level results ever for Class of 2026 at HCS
Published: Thu 13 August 2026Students at Hackney Collegiate Sixth Form (HCS), the high-achieving sixth form at City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, are celebrating their A level results today with a record number securing top grades.
- Best A level results ever, improving every year
- Half of all grades awarded were A* or A
- Award-winning Trust top nationally for A level progress
Students across City of London Academies Trust celebrate today as they receive their A level exam results, including a string of straight A* grades at the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ City of London Academy Shoreditch Park in Hackney. Across the Trust’s eight post-16 sixth forms and colleges, half of all grades awarded were an A* or A, an incredible achievement and well above the national average of just 28%.
Sofia and Zofia at HCS, the ‘Outstanding’ academic sixth form at City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, both achieved a string of top A* grades and secured their university places, albeit at opposite ends of the country in Bristol and Durham.
Speaking about their time studying geography together, conducting field work in the Lake District and their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Iceland, Zofia said:
“I’m excited to leave London and explore somewhere new. I don’t know where studying Geography will take me next, I don’t have a plan, but I’m happy with that and that I got the grades to get my place at uni.”
Holly Arles, Principal at City of London Academy Shoreditch Park said:
“First and foremost, I’m proud of this brilliant cohort of students whose achievements are thoroughly deserved. I’m also grateful for our dedicated team of teachers who work tirelessly to help our students realise their ambitions. This is our best ever set of A level results; we are improving every year. Half of all grades awarded today were an A* or A.”
City of London Academies Trust empowers more than 2,000 young people in Hackney by ensuring every pupil has access to a high-quality education alongside unique enrichment opportunities for personal development funded by their sponsor, the City of London Corporation.
This year City of London Academies Trust was commended by the Secretary of State for Education for the excellent post-16 outcomes of its most disadvantaged pupils, ranked top multi-academy trust nationally for A level performance.
The sixth forms across City of London Academies Trust, including the two in Hackney, all ranked in the top 25% nationally for academic progress and received prestigious Gold Awards from ALPS, a national educational organisation that helps schools measure and analyse academic progress.
Mark Emmerson, Chief Executive of City of London Academies Trust said:
“Congratulations to our students on their hard-earned results. Their individual achievements are a true cause for celebration and cap a brilliant year for City of London Academies Trust – a year in which our award-winning sixth forms ranked in the top 20% nationally for progress and our Trust was commended by the Secretary of State for the excellence outcomes of our most disadvantaged pupils. Thank you to our dedicated staff whose hard work makes days like these so rewarding for everyone involved.”
Steve Goodman, Chair of City of London Academies Trust said:
“Another fantastic set of results for our students! These achievements reflect the hard work, resilience, and ambition of each and every one of them – and we are very proud of them all. A big thank you to all our excellent school staff who have supported our students throughout.
I also want to recognise the vital role of our sponsor, the City of London Corporation. Its unwavering commitment to education helps us deliver excellence across all our schools. We are raising aspirations, opening doors, and creating real opportunities for the future. Social mobility is at the heart of everything we do – and with the City Corporation’s support, we are building a future for each and every one of our students.”
To find out more about the ‘Outstanding’ sixth form offer at Shoreditch Park, visit hcs.cola.org.uk.