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St Swithun's revels in a record-breaking year of GCSE results |
Students at St Swithun's School in Winchester are celebrating excellent GCSE results, breaking multiple school records. 43% of all results received were Grade 9, exceeding last year's school record of 37%. 70% of grades were 9/8/A*, eclipsing the previous record from 2011, and 85% were 7/A and above - the highest since 2017.
The all-girls' boarding and day school has seen outstanding results across the board, from English and STEM subjects to languages and music. In English literature, biology, further maths, French and German, over 75% of subject results were a Grade 8 or 9 and over half were Grade 9. All girls studying music GCSE received a top grade of 8 or 9. Students also notably excelled in food preparation and nutrition, geography, Latin and religious studies.
St Swithun's students take a broad and challenging academic curriculum, with each student in U5 taking on average 9.6 GCSEs this year. Nearly one-third of the 89 students in the year group achieved straight 9/8/A* grades, eight of whom gained all 9s. Over two-thirds earned six or more 9/8/A* grades.
Eira L and Elizabeth B both achieved 12 Grade 9s while balancing their own interests beyond the classroom. As a music scholar, Eira is an accomplished singer and violist. She is a valued member of the school chamber choir and baroque ensemble but also enjoys playing tennis and lacrosse. Elizabeth is a gifted singer and pianist and, alongside her musical exploits, has represented the school in cross country and lacrosse, and is working towards her silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.
As well as achieving 11 Grade 9s, boarder Hayden C excels in school life beyond her studies. She is actively involved in a range of co-curricular activities, including badminton, allotment club, symphony orchestra and flute ensemble. A keen writer, Hayden won the national 'Write Well' competition in 2024.
Chloë M has also excelled in her GCSE results, achieving ten Grade 9s. Chloë joined St Swithun's in prep school and plans to study biology, chemistry, geography and mathematics in the sixth form.
"I'm so proud of how I have grown academically throughout the years at St Swithun’s - my younger self would be amazed to know that I have achieved ten 9s. I can't wait to continue my academic journey in the sixth form and beyond.”
Chloë said about her time at the school.
Budding linguist India D-T received all 9s, including German and Latin. Earlier this year, she was highly commended in the Oxford Flash Fiction Competition for her creative writing in German.
St Swithun's also commends Aanya B, Lily F, Carolyn H, and Katie L for achieving 9s across all their subjects.
Jane Gandee, headmistress at St Swithun's said, “We are delighted to share these exceptional outcomes and to recognise the exceptional growth that so often takes place behind the scenes. I want to celebrate all our students who, with their teachers' guidance, have made outstanding progress during their GCSE courses, both in the classroom and as young women of character.”
This news follows a similarly stellar outcome for A-level results, with over 10% of students heading to Oxford or Cambridge.