More than 80% of A-level entries from pupils attending the top 10 independent schools achieved A and A* this year – three times the national average, Mail Online has reported.

In top place, Dukes Education’s Cardiff Sixth Form College pupils achieved A or A* with 94% of entries, with 67% of its entries achieving A* grade, compared to 9.4% nationally.

However, only 28.3% of entries across all UK schools achieved A or A* this year. State schools educate 83% of all sixth formers.

In total, 87% of the private schools providing data did better than the national average.

Alan Smithers, professor of education at the University of Buckingham, said: “Talented pupils do outstandingly well in independent schools because they receive a brilliant education and the schools are well versed in the examination requirements.

“It is a great pity that the opportunity should now be denied to more pupils, in spite of the generous scholarships and bursaries, by the mean-spirited imposition of VAT on fees.”

Barnaby Lenon, Buckingham’s dean of education and a former chair of the Independent Schools Council said private schools consistently dominate league tables for A-level results, adding: “Many of their pupils are from modest backgrounds on bursaries. It is a tragedy that these great schools are out of reach to many more families because of the imposition of VAT on parents’ fees.”