Exceptional GCSE Results Achieved by Students Across Ealing
Grades for most schools exceed national and London average
Students at St. Benedict's finding out their results. Picture: St. Benedict's School
August 20, 2026
This year saw another year in which students in Ealing delivered exceptional performances for their GCSEs. Most of the schools in the area, which have reported their results so far, have exceeded not just the national average for top grades but the higher London average both in the state and private sectors.
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.
Celebrations at St. Augustine's. Picture: St. Augustine's Priory
Dormers Wells High School saw students arrive early, envelopes in hand, before spilling outside to celebrate with friends and family. Among those delighted with their results was Ameer Alwakeel, who achieved six grade 9s and four grade 8s and is now planning to study maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. Riddhi Kantilal earned six grade 9s, three grade 8s and one grade 7, and hopes to become a quantitative analyst. Other students celebrated personal milestones: Kashish Rahela achieved grade 5s across all subjects and plans to study a BTEC in business or finance; Rameen Mbarak hopes to pursue media; Temani Lericke is aiming for a future in broadcasting; and Gurjot Singh is already considering a degree apprenticeship. Headteacher Róisín Walsh said the school was “so proud of our students’ exceptional progress and outcomes,” describing the results as another example of Dormers Wells’ “open door to success.”
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.
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.
Ark Soane Academy in Acton marked a landmark moment: the founding cohort of Year 7 pupils, who joined the school when it opened in 2021, collected their GCSE results for the first time. Their achievements were striking, with 54% of grades awarded at 7–9 and 90% of pupils achieving grades 9–4 in English and Maths. Principal Mr Neuberger said he “couldn’t be prouder” of the year group, praising their trust in the school and their hard work over five years. Among the standout performers were Eabha Kennedy, who achieved nine grade 9s; sisters Lily and Olivia Knights, who earned 17 grade 9s between them; Nadira Anwar, who obtained eight grade 9s and one grade 8; Adam Omar, who earned seven grade 9s and two grade 8s; and Kirubel Zekarias, who achieved seven grade 9s and one grade 8. Many students will now progress to A-levels in subjects ranging from Biology and Chemistry to Economics, History and Maths. The results follow Ark Soane’s 2024 Ofsted inspection, in which it was graded outstanding in all categories.
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.
Chiswick School says it is eager to build on this year’s achievements as it enters the new academic year. Its Sixth Form continues to offer a strong pathway to leading universities, Russell Group institutions, apprenticeships and a wide range of successful destinations, providing students with the knowledge, skills and values they need to excel in the future.
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