Acton Students Celebrate Outstanding GCSE Performances
Local schools see results well above national average
Ark Acton students celebrate after getting their results
August 25, 2026
Acton’s schools are celebrating a remarkable summer of GCSE success, with most in the W3 postcode area comfortably surpassing national averages.
For Ark Soane, this year’s results carry particular significance: they are the first GCSE outcomes for the school’s founding cohort, who joined as Year 7 pupils when the academy opened in 2021. Five years on, their achievements have set an impressive benchmark. More than half of all grades — 54 per cent — were at grades 7 to 9, while 90 per cent of students secured grades 9–4 in English and Maths, giving them a strong foundation for sixth form and further study.
Principal Mr Neuberger said he “couldn’t be prouder” of the students, praising their trust in the school and the “life-changing outcomes” they have earned. The individual stories behind the results underline the scale of their achievement. Eabha Kennedy achieved nine grade 9s and will go on to study Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. Sisters Lily and Olivia Knights earned a combined total of seventeen grade 9s, with Lily progressing to A-levels in Maths, Chemistry and History, and Olivia choosing Biology, Chemistry and Maths. Nadira Anwar secured eight grade 9s and one grade 8, while Adam Omar and Kirubel Zekarias each achieved seven grade 9s alongside grade 8s. All spoke of the support of teachers, friends and family — a theme echoed throughout the cohort.
The results follow Ark Soane’s 2024 Ofsted inspection, in which the school was graded “outstanding” in every category. Its new sixth form opens in September, offering a wide range of A-level subjects, with enrolment now open to both internal and external students.
Nearby, Ark Acton Academy also reported a strong year. Students celebrated a series of standout individual results, including Manpreet, who arrived in the UK only last September and achieved four grade 9s and five grade 8s; and Ray Reza, who earned a grade 9, four grade 8s and two grade 7s. Crystal, who joined the school late in Key Stage 3, discovered a passion for music through the Ark Music programme and will now pursue musical theatre. Principal Sarah Donachy praised the “hard work, resilience and determination” shown by the cohort. The GCSE results follow an exceptional BTEC performance last week, when every Year 13 student achieved DDM or better, placing the school in the top ten per cent nationally for progress in Applied Science.
Ellen Wilkinson School reported a Progress 8 score of 0.93, with 41% of all grades at 7–9 and 35% of students achieving five or more grades at that level. Sixty-three percent achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths, and 78% achieved grade 4 or above. Students quickly moved on to enrolling for A-levels, with many hoping to follow recent sixth form leavers to Russell Group universities, including Oxford and King’s College London.
Twyford Church of England High School, meanwhile, continued its tradition of high academic performance. Nearly half of all GCSE grades — 49 per cent — were at grades 7 to 9, more than double the national figure. Eighty-two per cent of grades were at 5 or above, and 91 per cent at 4 or above. Nine students achieved eight or more grade 9s, with Kayden Tan earning an extraordinary eleven. Sixty per cent of students achieved a grade 5 or above across their English Baccalaureate subjects. As the school noted, these results reflect sustained strength across both academic and creative subjects, from Music and Drama to Art and Graphics.
At St Benedict’s School, almost half of all grades were awarded at 9 or 8, with 66% at 9–7. The school described the results as a testament to the commitment and determination shown by Year 11 throughout the year. Among the standout achievements were Olivia S and Shuhan H, who both secured straight 9s, with Shuhan also earning an A in Additional Maths. Jay W achieved nine 9s, one 8 and an A in Additional Maths, while a further group of students – Gemma S, Henry H, Lorna P, Maverick T, Aimee P, Arabella W and Tom H – gained full sets of grades 9–7. Headmaster Joe Smith praised the cohort’s contribution to school life and said he was delighted that the vast majority would be returning to the Sixth Form in September. Head of Year 11 Will Clarke added that their “hard work, resilience and commitment throughout have truly paid off.”
Notting Hill & Ealing High School also celebrated a remarkable year. Out of a cohort of 94, 45% of entries were awarded grade 9, 74% were graded 9 or 8, and 91% achieved grades 9–7. Nearly a third of pupils gained straight 9s and 8s, and 28 students achieved seven or more grade 9s. Headteacher Allison Saunders said it had been “a joy” to watch the cohort grow in confidence, describing the results as the perfect springboard into Sixth Form. The school reported particularly strong outcomes in Modern and Classical Languages, Music, RS and Art, alongside notable success in STEM and Humanities.
St Augustine’s Priory continued its strong summer performance, following outstanding A-level results last week. This year, 32% of GCSE grades were awarded at 9–8 and 54% at 9–7. Individual successes included Elkie, who achieved eight grade 9s and two grade 8s; Róisín, who secured six grade 9s and three grade 8s; Aline, who celebrated eight grade 9s and one grade 8; and Eliza, who gained seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one 7. Students spoke warmly of the support they had received, with Róisín giving special thanks to her Spanish teacher, Mrs Toynton. Creative Arts and Modern Languages were particular strengths, with Modern Languages achieving 94% of grades at 9–7 and Drama securing 90% at 9–7. Headteacher Christine Macallister said the results reflected “impressive academic attainment” and the determination shown throughout the GCSE courses.
Gunnersbury School celebrated another year of high achievement, with 90% of students securing five or more GCSEs including English and Maths. Thirty-five students achieved top grades across all their subjects, a result the school attributed to determination in lessons, at home and throughout the exam period, supported by teachers and parents. Staff described the results as a reflection of the high standards students set for themselves.
Nationally, 67% of GCSE entries in England achieved Grade 4 or above, a figure almost unchanged from last year and identical to 2019. London, however, has moved further ahead when it comes to top grades. The proportion of entries achieving Grade 7 or above in the capital has risen from 25.7% in 2019 to 28.6% this year, making London the highest -performing region in England. In the North West, 18.9% of entries achieved Grade 7 or above; in the East Midlands, 18.2%; and in the West Midlands, 18.3%. The gap between London and the East Midlands has now reached 10.4 percentage points, while the gap with the West Midlands stands at 10.3 points, both the widest recorded since at least 2010. Northern Ireland continues to outperform both England and Wales, with 31.7% of entries achieving Grade 7 or above, compared with 21.8% in England and 19.6% in Wales. At Grade 4 or above, Northern Ireland recorded 83.6%, compared with 67% in England and 62.3% in Wales.
The Department for Education said this year’s GCSEs saw the largest ever improvement in maths standards, with 6,000 additional students achieving Grade 7 or above. It described the results as a standout success, noting that almost 8,000 more Technical Award Level 2 passes were achieved compared with last year. The department also acknowledged that inequalities remain visible in the results and said it intends to close the attainment gap and end what it called the resit treadmill.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham congratulated pupils, saying they should be proud of the hard work that led to their achievements. He said that whether students choose sixth form, college, an apprenticeship, a T Level, work or another route, there are now more opportunities than ever to choose their own path. He added that he is determined to bring back hope and give every young person the chance to fulfil their potential.
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