St Augustine’s CE High School is celebrating the achievements of its Year 11 students following the publication of the 2026 GCSE results, with the school particularly proud of the significant improvements made across a number of key measures and the progress made by disadvantaged students.
Among the strongest headline outcomes were the results at the highest grades. The proportion of students achieving grades 9–7 in the combined English and Mathematics measure continue to be above the students Target Grade. The school also saw a number of positive subject-level outcomes, with several subjects exceeding targets or improving on the previous year.
English 9–4 was 74.9%, with the gap to target reducing from 8.5 percentage points in 2025 to 3.5 percentage points in 2026. In Mathematics, 61.1% achieved grades 9–4, reducing the gap to target from 19.2 percentage points to 8.2 percentage points. The combined English and Mathematics 9–4 measure also saw its gap to target reduce substantially, from 22.3 percentage points in 2025 to 12.2 percentage points in 2026.
The school is also particularly proud of the progress made in the 9–4 measure across five subjects including English and Mathematics. Combined Science also showed a significant improvement against target, with the 9–4 measure.
Celebrating inclusion and achievement for all
A key feature of the 2026 results is the school’s continued commitment to inclusion. The proportion of the cohort eligible for Pupil Premium increased from 47.3% in 2024/25 to 50.8% in 2025/26, yet disadvantaged students achieved particularly strongly in several measures. Disadvantaged students performed better than their non-disadvantaged peers in 9–7 English and Mathematics, 9–7 English, 9–7 Mathematics and 9–4 Humanities, while gaps have closed across a number of other headline measures.
The results also demonstrate the impact of the school’s inclusive approach. Four Year 11 students joined the school during 2025/26, alongside additional students who joined during Key Stage 4 and five students who were supported through Managed Moves. The school believes that enabling these young people to complete Year 11 successfully is an important achievement in itself and reflects the school’s commitment to ensuring that every student is given the opportunity to succeed.
Strong performance across individual subjects
The 2026 results contain a number of strong individual subject performances.
-
In English Language, grades 9, 9–8, 9–7 and 9–6 all exceeded target, while the 9–4 outcome improved on 2024/25. English Literature also saw its highest grades exceed target, with the 9–5 measure improving on the previous year.
-
In Mathematics, the proportion achieving grade 9 was higher than both the target and 2024/25, while grades 9–8 and 9–7 also exceeded target.
-
There were also notable outcomes in the sciences. Biology and Chemistry both exceeded targets at higher grades, while Physics achieved stronger outcomes at grades 9 and 9–8 than both target and the previous year. Combined Science saw improvement at a number of grade thresholds compared with 2024/25.
-
Positive outcomes were also recorded in History, French, Geography, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology and Spanish, with individual headline measures either exceeding targets or improving on the previous year.
We are always proud of our students
Rachel Kelly, Headteacher of St Augustine’s CE High School, said:
“We are incredibly proud of our Year 11 students and the results they have achieved. These results represent far more than a set of numbers – they represent years of hard work, perseverance, resilience and determination from our students, alongside the dedication of our staff and the support of parents and carers.
“What makes me particularly proud is the improvement we can see in the gap between the targets we set for our students and the grades they ultimately achieved. In many of our key measures, that gap has reduced significantly compared with last year. This is evidence that our focus on high expectations, quality teaching, careful tracking and targeted support is beginning to make a real difference.
“I am also especially proud of the way our inclusive approach has enabled students who joined us during Key Stage 4, including students supported through Fair Access Protocols and Managed Moves, to reach the end of Year 11 and achieve their qualifications. Every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, and we are determined that circumstances should never define what a student can achieve.
“There is, of course, more work to do. We are ambitious for our students and will continue to focus relentlessly on improving outcomes. But today is about celebrating our young people. They have shown the qualities we value so highly at St Augustine’s – Faith, Hope and Love, together with perseverance, integrity and a curiosity to be the best they can be.
“I would like to congratulate every member of our Year 11 cohort. We are immensely proud of you and wish you every success as you take your next steps into further education, training and employment.”
St Augustine’s CE High School looks forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 and supporting students as they move on to the next stage of their education, training and future careers. St Augustine’s are also looking forward to many of their students returning to St Augustine’s Sixth Form in September.