A-level students get outstanding results at city school that revels in its diversity and excellent name

One of Wales' most diverse schools is so popular it has had to turn down more than 100 pupils wanting places. Now its pupils have been celebrating their A-level results. Rahaf Ali reports

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ANTICIPATION rippled around the school hall as pupils at one of Wales' most diverse and oversubscribed schools arrived to collect the results that will determine their next steps in higher education, apprenticeships, or employment.

It was an important milestone for the pupils at Cardiff's Fitzalan High School, and further proved the school's reputation.

This year's A-level results in Wales show a slight improvement in overall pass rates, with 97.5% of students achieving grades A*-E, up 0.1 percentage points from 2024.

The proportion achieving the top A* grade rose to 10.5%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared with last year.

Across the UK, more than 1 in 10 results achieved the highest grade, although the total number of A-level entries this summer was lower than in previous years.

Fitzalan High School is a school that stands out in Wales, it has built a strong reputation for academic achievement and community engagement, offering a broad curriculum that supports its students' further education.

The school has approximately 82% of pupils with English as an additional language, but huge efforts are made to make sure the community is involved and recent inspection reports have praised its high standards, inclusive environment, and commitment to preparing students for a range of future opportunities.

It speaks volumes that it is the second most popular school in Cardiff, having to turn down 144 children for its 300 places recently.

Headteacher Adam Lear spoke to the Western Mail about the pride he has in all his pupils. "Their results reflect not only the hard work, but also the dedication and ambition, and results day is very much a celebration of their individual journeys and collective success," he says. "I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the dedicated and supportive families and communities for helping our young people achieve their goals."