On the degrees of non-split extensions by an alternating group

Let G ≤ Sn be a permutation group of degree n with a quotient isomorphic to Ak. We show that if n < (1/2 − o(1))k then the extension splits. Motivated by this result, Guralnick and Liebeck have shown that the conclusion fails to hold if we allow n to be n = 2k(k − 1), establishing a tight quadratic growth rate for the smallest degree of a faithful permutation representation of a non-split extension by Ak.