Brighton and Hove has recorded another year of strong academic performance, with A-level students maintaining their position above the national average for the thirteenth straight year in 2026.

Data released by the local authority shows that 98.3 percent of students in the city obtained A-level qualifications graded between A* and E.

A total of 63.4 percent of pupils secured the higher grades of A* or B in their examinations.

Not all students in the city follow traditional academic pathways after completing Key Stage 4.

Vocational and technical qualifications such as BTECs offer alternative routes into employment, providing practical training and workplace skills tailored to specific industries.

More than 1,500 pupils in Brighton and Hove chose vocational qualifications as an alternative to A-levels during the current academic year.

Results across the city demonstrated a 97.4 percent pass rate for vocational and technical qualifications in 2026.

GCSE performance also showed positive movement.

Provisional figures indicated a year-on-year improvement, with 69 percent of students achieving grades four or above in combined English and Mathematics.

This represented an increase from the 67 percent recorded in 2025.

Nationally, results remained largely unchanged over the same period.

Councillor Emma Daniel, the cabinet member responsible for children, families and youth services, acknowledged the achievements.

She noted the importance of recognising the efforts of all young people who received examination results, regardless of individual outcomes.

Educational achievement extends beyond examination grades, according to council officials.

Skills developed through schooling, sixth-form education and college studies include responsibility, independence, communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, empathy and resilience.

These qualities prepare young people for diverse destinations, whether further education, higher education, apprenticeships, traineeships or direct entry into employment.

Support services exist to assist school-leavers in Brighton and Hove with their next steps.

The Youth Employment Hub offers guidance to adults aged between 16 and 25, helping individuals explore career options, plan their futures and access education, employment and training opportunities.

Face-to-face appointments are available at the hub location in Kemp Town, where the Youth Employability Service operates alongside Department for Work and Pensions youth coaches.

Adult residents of Brighton and Hove also have access to learning opportunities.

The Adult Skills Hub provides courses for those aged 19 and over, covering English for speakers of other languages, information technology, digital skills, mathematics and English.

Skills Bootcamps form part of the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee initiative.

These free, flexible courses run for up to 16 weeks and enable participants to develop industry-specific abilities while gaining priority access to interviews with local employers.

In Brighton and Hove, bootcamps operate across sectors including adult social care, construction, digital industries, early years education, hospitality, land-based sectors, leadership and management and personal training.

Connect to Work delivers individual support to people experiencing barriers to employment.

The programme assists disabled individuals, those with long-term health conditions, care leavers, homeless people, veterans and refugees.

Participants receive help building confidence and developing skills needed to apply for positions and settle into new roles.

Assistance is also available for employed individuals facing redundancy risks.

Construction workers residing in Brighton and Hove, including self-employed tradespeople, can access support through the Local Employment Scheme for Construction.

The scheme provides funding for career development, covering training and qualifications up to a maximum of £2,000 in areas such as health, safety and wellbeing, business, leadership and management, net zero transition, digital technology and on-site operations.

Resources come from Section 106 agreements paid by developers to address the impact of new construction projects.