Record-Breaking Results:
Eight Years of Continuous Improvement at DESS College
With historic GCSE, A Level and BTEC outcomes in 2026, DESS College continues its remarkable journey of sustained excellence, delivering exceptional value-added progress and achieving results that rank among the strongest in the region.
GCSE Headline Results 2026
DESS College is proud to celebrate another year of record-breaking GCSE success, continuing an extraordinary pattern of improvement that has seen outcomes rise consistently over the past eight years.
The Class of 2026 has achieved the strongest GCSE results in the school's history. An outstanding *64.2% of all grades were awarded at Grades 7-9 (A/A equivalent)**, rising from 59.8% in 2025 and almost doubling the pre-COVID figure of 39.1% in 2018. Even more remarkably, 19.3% of all grades awarded were Grade 9, the highest proportion ever achieved by the College.
Performance was exceptional across every key measure. 83.0% of grades were Grade 6 or above, 94.7% were Grade 5 or above, and 99.0% achieved Grade 4 or above. In English and Mathematics combined, an outstanding 98.5% of students secured strong passes (Grade 5+).
Perhaps the most significant measure of success is the school's exceptional value-added performance. With a MEG Residual of +1.72, students achieved, on average, almost two grades higher per subject than their minimum expected outcomes. This reflects the dedication of our students, the expertise of our staff, and the highly personalised support that defines a DESS College education.
These results reinforce DESS College's position as one of the highest-performing schools in the region and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to helping every student achieve beyond expectations.
A Level Headline Results 2026
DESS College is delighted to announce a truly exceptional set of A Level results for 2026, marking another milestone in the school's sustained record of academic excellence.
Our Year 13 students achieved the strongest A Level outcomes in the school's recent history, continuing a remarkable upward trend that has been evident for almost a decade. An outstanding 61.4% of grades were awarded at A or A*, substantially exceeding both our 2025 performance and UK national averages. Even more impressively, 32.4% of all grades were awarded at A*, almost double the figure achieved just one year ago and the highest proportion in the school's history.
Across all subjects, 83.2% of grades were A to B*, 94.6% were A to C*, and 100% of students achieved a pass grade, reflecting the consistently high standards achieved by our Sixth Form students.
The Class of 2026 also delivered a remarkable average residual score of +1.38, meaning students exceeded their expected outcomes by well over a grade on average across all subjects. This exceptional value-added performance highlights DESS College's ability to help students realise their full academic potential regardless of starting point.
These outstanding results have enabled students to progress to leading universities across the UK, North America, Europe and beyond, including admission to highly competitive institutions and courses. The Class of 2026 leaves DESS College with an extraordinary record of achievement and a bright future ahead.
BTEC Headline Results 2026
DESS College is equally proud of the exceptional achievements of its BTEC students, who have delivered another year of outstanding and record-breaking results.
The 2026 cohort achieved 77% Distinction* grades, the highest figure in the school's history and a significant improvement on an already exceptional 70% in 2025. A further 19.8% of entries were graded Distinction, meaning that almost all students achieved the very highest levels of BTEC success.
Across 111 BTEC entries, students achieved a remarkable 96.8% Distinction or Distinction* rate, while maintaining a 100% overall pass rate. These results continue a long-established pattern of excellence and reflect the commitment, professionalism and ambition shown by our students throughout their courses.
The sustained improvement in BTEC outcomes over recent years demonstrates the strength of vocational learning at DESS College and the outstanding support provided by our specialist teaching teams. Our students leave equipped not only with exceptional qualifications but also with the skills, confidence and experience needed for success in higher education and future careers.
The 2026 results further strengthen DESS College's reputation as one of the region's leading providers of both academic and vocational education, where students consistently exceed expectations and achieve exceptional outcomes.
.jpg?width=2002&height=1127&name=Candid%20Photos%20Sixth%20Form%20-1-3%20(1).jpg)
