Why choose A levels?
The strength of A levels is they allow early academic specialisation with a focus on in-depth subject knowledge, subject specific skills and intellectual agility. Whilst A levels may be more familiar, they are likely to suit a narrower range of students compared to IB as they are a more specialist sixth form option.
A levels may be a better preparation for some university courses and careers. For example, students taking pure maths at university will benefit from the combination of Mathematics and Further Mathematics A level. Alternatively, those interested in a creative industries future will find real advantages in choosing two A levels from our dedicated Design Centre which offers Fine Art, Design and Technology, Textiles, Photography and Graphic Design.
A levels are hard as you would expect from any world-class sixth form qualification. For success they require intrinsic motivation; a commitment to independent study, perseverance, resilience and a considerable aptitude for the subjects chosen. We provide the environment to help you fulfil these criteria through a careful balance of space and support, along with, extensive resources. Acknowledging their rigour, we limit our A level students to three subjects (although Further Maths is taught as a fourth). This allows us to allocate more lesson time to each subject. Contact time with your teacher is vital and unusually, at Rugby, our A level students will have the same number of taught lessons for their academic subjects as our IB cohort. A levels are respected internationally and offer an excellent pathway into Higher Education.
Recent leavers
Gabe Downes (SH 20-25)
Gabe left Rugby in the summer of 2025 after achieving outstanding A-level results of A*AA in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. A former member of School House, he is now studying Economics and Statistics at Duke University in the United States. In this One Year Leaver Feature, Gabe reflects on his time at Rugby School and the advice he would offer to those following in his footsteps.
Annie Hyde (St 22-24)
Annie, a former Performing Arts and Music Scholar, is now in her first year at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, studying on one of the world’s most competitive Musical Theatre programmes. After taking A Levels in English, Philosophy and Theatre Studies at Rugby, she has continued to combine creative and academic study, taking advantage of NYU’s flexible curriculum to pursue subjects such as writing and philosophy alongside her performance training.