IB League Table: The International Baccalaureate Results 2026
The 2026 IB League Table is out! This comprehensive overview offers a glimpse into the achievements of students who undertook the esteemed International Baccalaureate programme. Let’s take a look at the educational accomplishments, trends, and insights that define this internationally recognised qualification within the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
What Is The International Baccalaureate (IB)?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognised educational programme that provides a comprehensive and challenging curriculum for students aged 16 to 19. The programme is designed to foster intellectual, personal, emotional, and social growth in students, aiming to create well-rounded individuals who are equipped to thrive in a globalised world.
The IB programme consists of several components:
Diploma Programme (DP): This is the core of the IB programme and includes a wide range of subjects that students study over a two-year period. These subjects cover languages, sciences, mathematics, social studies, and the arts. Students are required to choose one subject from each of these groups, ensuring a balanced education.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK): This is a course that encourages students to think critically about the nature of knowledge and how it’s acquired. It challenges students to consider the ways different disciplines approach knowledge and how they intersect.
Extended Essay (EE): The extended essay is an independent research project where students choose a topic of interest and conduct in-depth research. It’s an opportunity for students to develop strong research and writing skills, preparing them for university-level work.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): CAS aims to develop students’ personal and interpersonal skills through a variety of activities. These activities can include community service, artistic pursuits, and physical activities. CAS encourages students to engage in activities outside of their academic studies.
IB assessments are rigorous and include both internal and external evaluations. Students are graded on a scale of 1 to 7 for each subject, with additional points available for TOK and the Extended Essay. The total points earned determine a student’s overall IB Diploma score.
The IB programme is often valued by universities worldwide for its emphasis on critical thinking, research skills, and global perspective. It provides a unique educational experience that prepares students for higher education and beyond.
IB Diploma Programme 2030 Reform: What is the Systems Transformation Pathway (STP)?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) has confirmed a major reform to the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), with a new pathway called the “Systems Transformation Pathway” (STP) planned for global rollout by 2030.
The new pathway aims to move students beyond traditional subject silos. Instead of studying topics separately, students will tackle large-scale global challenges through interdisciplinary learning. Areas of focus may include climate change, biodiversity, migration, energy systems, and food security.
Under the proposed structure, students will still complete:
- 3 Higher Level (HL) subjects
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
- Extended Essay (EE)
However, instead of taking 3 Standard Level (SL) subjects, students will take only 1 SL subject. The remaining teaching time (approximately 300 hours) will be dedicated to the STP programme.
Assessment methods will also change significantly. Rather than relying heavily on written examinations, the STP will use a combination of:
- collaborative projects
- competency portfolios
- case studies
- real-world problem-solving tasks
Assessment weighting is expected to be split equally between internal and external evaluation.
According to the IB, the goal is to better prepare students for complex real-world challenges while developing teamwork, leadership, communication, and systems-thinking skills. The organisation also believes this approach may reduce AI-assisted cheating, as much of the work focuses on live collaboration and applied problem-solving.
The programme has already been piloted at selected schools and will enter an early-adopter phase in 2028 before wider global implementation in 2030.
For parents considering IB schools today, the announcement signals the direction the IB is moving towards: greater emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, practical application, and global impact rather than purely examination-based assessment.
Fun Facts about the International Baccalaureate
Here are some interesting facts about the programme:
- 1,950,000 students
- 5,600 schools
- 159 countries
2026 IB League Table: Top IB Schools in the UK for 2026
Here are the-top performing schools based on the highest average points scored in the May 2026 IB examination session:
| Average Points | School Name | Day Or Boarding | Boy Or Girls School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42.2 | King's College School, Wimbledon | Day | Boys (Co-ed 6th form) |
| 41 | Godolphin & Latymer School | Day | Girls |
| 40.2 | Whitgift School | Boarding | Boys |
| 40.2 | Cheltenham Ladies' College | Boarding | Girls |
| 39.6 | Sevenoaks School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 39.2 | Ardingly College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38.7 | Wellington College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38.3 | Bromsgrove School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38.2 | Kent College Canterbury | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38.11 | King Edward's School, Birmingham | Day | Boys |
| 38 | Bedford Girls' School | Day | Girls |
| 38 | Fettes College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38 | Haileybury | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38 | Bristol Grammar School | Day | Co-ed |
| 37.5 | Charterhouse School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 37 | Brentwood School, Essex | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 36 | Varndean College | Day | Co-ed |
| 36 | Marymount International School London | Boarding | Girls |
| 36 | Rugby School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35.8 | Ryde School With Upper Chine | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35.4 | St Clare's, Oxford | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35 | St Leonards School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35 | Leighton Park School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35 | Lomond School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34.8 | Gresham's School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34.8 | Oakham School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34.2 | King William's College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34.2 | Lycee International Winston Churchill | Day | Co-ed |
| 34 | Felsted School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34 | Rossall School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 33.5 | Windermere School - Browhead Campus | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 33.4 | Taunton School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 33.2 | The Worthgate School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 33 | Scarborough College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 33 | Bryanston School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 32 | Ellesmere College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 31 | Buckswood School | Boarding | Co-ed |
2025 IB League Table: Top IB Schools in the UK for 2025
| Average Points | School Name | Day Or Boarding | Boy Or Girls School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42.69 | North London Collegiate School | Day | Girls |
| 42.1 | King's College School, Wimbledon | Day | Boys (Co-ed 6th form) |
| 41.5 | Godolphin & Latymer School | Day | Girls |
| 40.1 | Ardingly College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 40.1 | Royal High School, Bath | Boarding | Girls |
| 39.81 | Bromsgrove School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 39.1 | Sevenoaks School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 39 | The Abbey School, Reading | Day | Girls |
| 38.7 | Wellington College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 38.6 | Cheltenham Ladies' College | Boarding | Girls |
| 38.9 | Whitgift School | Boarding | Boys |
| 38 | Fettes College | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 37.95 | King Edward's School, Birmingham | Day | Boys |
| 37.3 | Brentwood School, Essex | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 36.9 | Haileybury | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 36.8 | Gresham's School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 36 | Rossall School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 36 | St Leonards School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35.4 | Leighton Park School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 35 | St Clare's, Oxford | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34.5 | Varndean College | Day | Co-ed |
| 34 | Felsted School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 34 | The Worthgate School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 33.9 | Oakham School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 32.7 | Taunton School | Boarding | Co-ed |
| 31.2 | King William's College | Boarding | Co-ed |
Frequently Asked Questions
The International Baccalaureate programme is an internationally recognised educational curriculum that aims to develop well-rounded students with a global perspective. It offers challenging courses for students aged 16 to 19, fostering critical thinking, research skills, and international-mindedness.
The IB results are calculated based on a combination of coursework, assessments, and exams. Students are graded on a scale of 1 to 7 in each subject, with additional points available for the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge components. The total points earned determine the final diploma outcome.
The IB programme and A-levels are both respected educational paths, but they have different structures. The IB focuses on a wider range of subjects, including core components like Extended Essay and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service). A-levels, on the other hand, allow students to specialise in a smaller number of subjects.
Successful preparation involves consistent study, effective time management, seeking guidance from teachers, and practising past papers. Balancing academic rigour with self-care is also important for optimal performance during the IB exams.
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