Shiplake College is delighted to announce its best ever GCSE results, achieved by the largest Year 11 cohort in the College’s history*, with 83 pupils sitting exams this summer.
Across the board, pupils performed exceptionally well, building on previous years’ successes and setting a new academic benchmark for the College:
- 18% of grades awarded were 9-8 (up from 17% in 2024)
- 38% at grades 9-7 (up from 34%)
- 64% at grades 9-6 (up from 58%)
- 95% at grades 9-4 (up from 93%)
- 99.7% overall pass rate (grades 9-1)
This year’s outstanding outcomes reflect a powerful culture of aspiration, hard work, and support at Shiplake, underpinned by the College’s core focus on teaching and learning. 95% of pupils achieved five or more passes at grade four and above across all academic subjects, with science, religious studies, and creative arts departments performing particularly strongly.
We are delighted that, once again, English and Maths have also shone as areas of excellence, with 99% of pupils achieving grade 4 or above in both English Language and English Literature, and 100% in Higher Tier Maths.
Among the significant number of success stories who achieved 9-6 across all their subjects, there were outstanding performances from:
- Charlie Scott – nine grade 9s and one 8
- Will Huckle – nine grade 9s
- Will Griffith – two 9s, seven 8s
- Alex Hooker and Milton Wong – straight 9-7s
- Matthew Perry – achieving a rare 9,9 in double science
It was also notable that 76% of pupils achieved at least one grade 7 or above and the number of grade 9s to 7s achieved has risen from 184 to 252, a rise of 37%.
Commenting on the results, Headmaster Tyrone Howe said:
"We are immensely proud of what our pupils have achieved this year – not just because these are the best GCSE results in Shiplake’s history, but because they reflect the hard work, resilience and ambition of this incredible year group. Our focus on metacognition – helping pupils understand how their brains work, how to revise effectively, and how they learn best – has clearly paid dividends. These results are a testament to the power of preparation, dedication, and belief.
This is a triumph for our whole community – pupils, families, and staff. The level of support, the commitment of our teachers, and the pupils’ determination to achieve their personal bests – no matter their starting points – have all come together this year in remarkable fashion”.
As the majority of these pupils now prepare to enter Sixth Form, and we look to welcome Year 12 joiners to create our largest Sixth Form cohort ever, the College remains committed to nurturing individual growth, with a focus on academic excellence, and helping every pupil thrive. These pupils now look ahead to an exciting Sixth Form journey, building on the strong academic and personal foundations set at GCSE.
*excluding the 2021 TAGs results due to the COVID pandemic.
