Today has been a wonderful reminder of what makes County such a special community. Our Particular thanks go to our Exams Team, whose considerable work behind the scenes ensured that this morning ran so smoothly and to our Sixth Form Team for managing the significant task of enrolment with such efficiency and care. We also thank the many colleagues who came into school during their holiday to distribute results, speak with students and families, offer advice and, of course, to share in their celebrations. Your presence matters enormously to our young people.
Mr Steve Smith, Headteacher, commented that, ‘There will, rightly, be time for detailed analysis. We will want to understand where outcomes have exceeded our expectations, where they have matched them and where they have fallen short. That process is important because it helps us to become better at what we do. What matters is that we approach it with the same openness and professional curiosity that colleagues have demonstrated today.’
He went on to say that, ‘Already, some really valuable conversations have begun about what we can learn from this year’s outcomes. Our continued focus on the quality of classroom practice, the design and sequencing of our curriculum and strong partnerships with families, particularly when a child is beginning to fall behind, remains central to our work. Alongside this, coaching gives us an increasingly powerful way to support one another in refining our craft. It is through the disciplined, consistent application of these things that we will continue to improve outcomes for every child. For the part that every one of you has played in these results, thank you. GCSE outcomes may be published against individual subjects and students, but the education of a child is never the work of one teacher or one department. It is a collective endeavour and today's successes belong to colleagues across the school. And there are some exceptional individual successes to celebrate.’
Among a very strong set of performances, special recognition goes to the following students, each of whom achieved an average grade of at least 8 across their GCSEs:
- Alice
- Mala
- Feriel
- Grace
- Annabelle
- Alyssa
- Molly
- Daniel
- Edward
- Emilia
- Ada
- Liam
- Alice
- Jade
- Lauren
We are also immensely proud of 13 students in Years 9 to 13 who achieved outstanding results in their Heritage Language examinations, including 3 out of the 6 taking a GCSE who gained a grade 9 and 5 out of the 7 taking an A level who gained an A* grade. Congratulations to them all.
Mr Smith, concluded by saying, ‘While these headline successes deserve particular recognition, I am equally conscious that there will be many students whose names do not appear above but for whom today's results represent something deeply significant. For some, a grade 4 secured after considerable perseverance will mean every bit as much as a grade 9 does for another. Progress, resilience and achievement take many forms and I hope that our students leave us knowing that we recognise and value them all. Today, then, brings one chapter of their education to a close. I am tremendously proud of the Year 11 Class of 2026 and all that they have achieved during their time with us. For those moving elsewhere, we wish them every happiness and success. For the many who will continue their journey at Guildford County Sixth Form, for which we are still warmly accepting applications, alongside the new students who will join us in September, we look forward to welcoming them back for the next stage. As pleased as we should be today, our ambition does not change. As we begin a new academic year, we will continue to strive for excellence for every child, ensuring that learning remains at the heart of our work and that County is a school in which every young person knows that they have a place and genuinely feels that they belong. That work requires expertise, high expectations and relentless attention to the quality of education we provide. It also requires the care and dedication that I see from colleagues every day. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this year’s results and, more importantly, for everything that they have done for the young people behind them.’
