Sciences and the Arts both hit record highs as St Dunstan's College celebrates outstanding GCSE Results 

From Art & Design Engineering to the Sciences, Year 11 results show a school where intellectual rigour and creative achievement go hand in hand — a week after the College's record-breaking A Level results. 

St Dunstan's College is celebrating an outstanding set of GCSE results this year, with 59% of all grades awarded at the top 9/8 (A**/A*), 95% at grade 9–6 (A*–B), and an average grade of 7.6 across the cohort. The results follow the College's record-breaking A Level outcomes announced last week, continuing an upward trajectory across both key stages. 

What stands out this year is the breadth of that success. Alongside the College's impressive Science results including Biology students achieving 92% at grade 9–7 (A*–A), Art and Design Engineering achieved a perfect 100% at 9–7, with Geography (98%), Music (95%) and French (94%) close behind. Across all subjects, 82% of grades were awarded at 9–7 (A*–A), and 36% of students achieved grade 7 or above in every GCSE they sat. 

For a school that places equal weight on core subjects and the creative and modern languages curriculum, the results are a marker of a genuinely rounded, progressive education, where pupils are encouraged to pursue rigorous science and design alongside music, art and language, rather than being asked to choose between them. 

Jade McLellan, Head of Senior School, commented: 

It has been a wonderful morning celebrating exceptional GCSE results across the board, with so much excitement from our students, seeing what the last five years of hard work has delivered. We are particularly proud that this success happens across such a range of subjects, from core subjects to the creatives. We look forward to supporting them with next stage of their academic journey in the Sixth Form to prepare for university and the challenges of the world of work!    

The breadth of achievement is reflected in the students themselves. Imani, who achieved all 9s and two 8s, is staying on to study Physics, Chemistry, Further Maths and Maths at A Level:  

I've really been part of St Dunstan's for a long time now and it's been fantastic. I think what makes it special is the support you're given and the amount of different opportunities outside of academic life as well. 

 

Cillian, who achieved all 8s and 9s, is moving into the Sixth Form to study Politics, Religion, Philosophy & Ethics, Classics and English: 

It's a really good atmosphere for learning and everyone's really friendly, and all of the teachers are really supportive and helpful. 

Parents are seeing the same balance play out at home.

Ivy, who achieved eight 9s and one 8 and is staying on to study Maths, English, Psychology and Economics, is one of several Year 11 students whose time at the College so far has spanned sport, the arts and academics alike. Her father said: 

We chose St Dunstan's because we heard great things about how holistic it was — from the sports to the acting to the music and then the level of the education. Each teacher, each department has really taken her as an individual and helped nurture her through to these exams. 

Charlie's father, whose son achieved mostly grade 8s and is moving up to study History at A Level, furthered the point: 

When we came and looked at St Dunstan's it was immediately apparent that the quality of teaching was absolutely superb. Quite often schools have a marketing approach and then when you're in the school, the real approach can sometimes be quite different. But in this case it hasn't at all. It’s gone above and beyond.  The school's very strong in its arts, in its music and drama, and so he's been able to do lots of things from sports to academic to arts, and every year it's got better and better for him. 

Noah’s mother reflected on the level of support and inclusivity of the school:  

We love the inclusivity, the pastoral care. St Dunstan's is a school that is multifaceted, and the breadth of children that are here is a huge strength. You can come here and you can find whatever it is that you love and do well. It is a school that encourages everyone to follow what they want to do and whatever that path is, is accommodated. 

Year 11 students now progress into St Dunstan's Sixth Form alongside new joiners from local state schools across south-east London; rooted in the same community that shaped their GCSE years, and ready for whatever comes next.

The College is continuing to develop its Sixth Form offer to reflect the world beyond education. This September sees the launch of the Nexus Series, an employability and leadership masterclass programme designed to build the commercial awareness and professional skills students need for a graduate market increasingly shaped by AI-enabled recruitment. The programme sits alongside plans for a new Sixth Form Centre, part of a wider Sports & Leisure complex renovation due to open in 2028.