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College GCSE Pupils Celebrate Outstanding Success

Record numbers of top grades highlight the hard work and achievement of this year’s GCSE cohort.

This year’s results are a testament to the dedication and ambition of the 139 pupils in the cohort. Across all subjects, 45% of grades were awarded at Grades 9-8, the highest proportion ever achieved by the College outside the 2021 teacher-assessed grades year. Meanwhile, 66% of all grades were awarded at Grades 9-7, representing Cheltenham College’s strongest performance at this level since 2020.

The results also reveal remarkable individual achievements. A record number of pupils secured five or more Grades 9 or 8, underlining the depth of academic excellence across the year group. Five pupils achieved nine or more Grade 9s, while 12 pupils gained eight or more Grade 9s. In total, 22 pupils achieved six or more Grade 9s, demonstrating both exceptional attainment and the breadth of success across the cohort.

Commenting on the results, Chris Townsend, Head of Cheltenham College, said:

“I am incredibly proud of the outstanding results achieved by this year’s Year 11 pupils at Cheltenham College.  With almost half of all grades achieved being 8 or 9, this represents our best set of results for many years and reflects the hard work and commitment shown by all the pupils.  I would also like to recognise the incredible support and dedication shown by all the teachers and staff at College, and the encouragement and commitment provided by parents.  We really look forward to working with these pupils as they move on to their Sixth Form studies where they will be joined by a large group of new pupils with excellent results from a range of schools.“

These results reflect not only individual academic success but also the collective effort of pupils, teachers and families. Cheltenham College congratulates all pupils on their accomplishments and looks forward to supporting them in the next stage of their educational journey.

To discover what makes a Cheltenham College education different, visit one of our upcoming Open Events. Ranked in the top 5% nationally for Sixth Form academic progress in the 2026 Department for Education data, Cheltenham College helps pupils consistently exceed expectations and achieve outstanding outcomes.

Two pink boxes display: 45% of all grades awarded were grades 9-8 and 66% of all grades achieved were grades 9-7, as GCSE Pupils Celebrate Outstanding Success against a backdrop of trees and a stone building.
Two pink boxes on a background of trees and a building highlight how GCSE Pupils Celebrate Outstanding Success. Left box: trophy icon with text “A record number of pupils achieved five or more grade 9s or 8s.” Right box: large 5 and text “pupils achieved nine or more Grade 9s.”.
Two pink boxes with text: 12 pupils achieved eight or more grade 9s and 22 pupils achieved six or more grade 9s, as GCSE Pupils Celebrate Outstanding Success against a background of a stone building and trees.