Fulham GCSE Students Excel Despite Unique Challenges
No allowance given to this year's cohort for impact of Covid-19 on lessons
Members of Fulham Cross Girls' School class of 2025 celebrate their results
September 1, 2025
There were a series of outstanding performances from Fulham students receiving their GCSE results this year.
Bucking the national trend which saw the proportion of top grades decline due to tougher marking standards, there was widespread improvement schools in the area.
Fulham Cross Girls' School saw nearly 40% of all grades reached the top levels of 7-9, while more than a quarter of students achieved an average grade of 7 or higher.
Leading the charge was Gabriella, who secured a perfect sweep of grade 9s across all her subjects. Close behind, Roda, Alaa, Sophie, Meriem and Maria each achieved an impressive average grade of 8.
Maria said, "I'm very happy with my results. If it wasn't for my school and my teachers' encouragement, I couldn't see myself in the position I'm in today."
Meanwhile modern languages saw relatively strong performances in Spanish and French with 59% and 56% achieving top grades respectively. History also shone, with more than half of students reaching grade 7 and above.
The school's commitment to STEM was reflected in the results. Physics was the best with 85% of grades at level 7 or above, while chemistry achieved 77% and biology reached 70%. In combined science, more than one in five students hit top grades.
Some students have earned full scholarships to independent sixth forms; one athlete has secured a full rowing scholarship in Henley, while others will build on their success at Fulham Cross Sixth Form from September.
Head of School Victoria Tully said, "I'm absolutely delighted again in 2025. The girls have got a phenomenal set of grades. We've got many happy students who are ready to go off and take up their A-level journey."
The Fulham Boys School in Fulham Road saw a record 95% of students scoring 4 or higher in both English and Maths.
Overall, 91% of GCSEs were graded 4 and above, with 68% of students achieving at least five grade 5s or above.
Star students include Theo who achieved eight grade 9s and two grade 8s. Enayat followed closely with eight grade 9s and one grade 8, and classmate Edmund scored seven grade 9s and two grade 8s.
This year, four more boys achieved at least one grade 9, jumping from 47 to 51 students. All music and 3D design GCSEs were scored grade 7 or higher, with 75% and 90% respectively achieving above grade 8.
Fulham Boys School students open their envelope
Headmaster David Smith commented, “We are delighted that our students have achieved such a great set of GCSE results, with some outstanding individual success stories. Our boys have worked tirelessly to meet their potential and lay foundations for the next step of their academic journey. As ever this would not have been possible without the hard work of The Fulham Boys School staff."
Fulham Cross Academy in Kingwood Road, which is a STEM specialist school saw 23% of all grades awarded at grade 7 and above, including 5% at the very highest grade 9.
Science subjects led the way, with more than 65% of biology grades reaching grade 7 or above. Chemistry and physics both achieved more than 45% of grades at grade 7 or higher.
Standout performers included Norah Kaabachi, Victor Kojm, Jonathan Li and Zuzanna Szandor, who all secured grade 8s and 9s across their subjects.
Victor explained, "The next stage of my academic journey will be going to Fulham Cross Academy Sixth Form. I can't wait! It's going to be a great opportunity."
Joshua Borazzo, Joseph Cameron and Lamar Ismail also excelled. They each achieved grade 7s and above throughout their studies.
English Literature also saw relatively good outcomes with one third of students reaching grade 7 or higher and 8% achieving the top grade 9.
Elise said of her grade in the subject, "I've had quite a difficult year, but I've ended up getting a 6 – and I'm so proud of that. I'm off to hairdressing college next."
Some star performers from the Fulham Cross Academy
Head of School Alan Jones said, We are incredibly proud of all of our students, and their results reflect their hard work and application to study. In addition to their academic success, these results highlight the strength of our STEM-specialist education at Fulham Cross Academy. We look forward to welcoming them into our sixth form as they begin the next stage of their educational journey."
At The Hurlingham Academy two-thirds of pupils scored a grade 5 or higher in both English and maths, with a quarter achieving a grade 7 or above in the two subjects.
Results in the sciences were particularly strong, with 93% of chemistry students achieving a grade 7 or higher, 89% achieving the same in physics and 81% in biology.
More than half of the pupils achieved a grade 7 or higher in either English literature or English language, or both. In Chinese, 100% of those taking the GCSE scored at least a grade 5 and 76% secured a grade 7 or above.
The Academy's top performer was Rihana, who achieved seven grade 9s and four grade 8s. Ahlam followed closely with four grade 9s and six grade 8s.
Principal Leon Wilson said, We are very pleased with the outcomes across the board for our Year 11 students, knowing how much focus, effort and determination has gone into securing these achievements. Every young person this year is moving on successfully to sixth form and further study and, as they do so, they can take immense pride in what they have already achieved. Likewise, our amazing staff team deserve tremendous praise for everything they do to support our students."
Burlington House School, which specialises in SEN students saw 92% Year 11 pupils achieve a 92% Grade 9–4 pass rate, up from 86% in 2024, with 42% of grades at 7–9, compared to 30% last year. Students sat exams in 18 different subjects, the broadest range the school has ever offered.
Highlights include:
• English Language and Literature – 100% pass rate, a signficicant achievement in a school where literacy is often a key challenge.
• Mathematics – 78% of pupils achieved Grade 9–4, up from 63% last year.
• BTEC Level 2 Courses – 100% pass rate, with over half achieving Merit or Distinction.
London Oratory School continued its strong academic tradition with 41% of GCSE grades awarded at 7–9. The school’s value-added performance placed it in the top 25% nationally, with particularly strong outcomes in Art & Design, Science, Chinese, English Language, History, Mathematics, and Music.
Lady Margaret School achieved solid results in 2025. 51% of GCSE grades were at 7–9, and 84% were at grade 5 or above. Notably, 68% of students secured the English Baccalaureate, and the school’s Attainment 8 score was 65.13, with an average points score of 6.23.
Cllr Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader of H&F, said, "We are celebrating another brilliant set of GCSE results right across the borough. I'm so proud of every single one of our young people. If you didn't get the results that you wanted, there are tons of pathways and opportunities available to you. We are here to support you every step of the way.
"Massive thanks to every single teacher, headteacher, teaching assistant, dinner assistant, parents, carer and everyone who has played a role in making sure that our young people go on to fulfil their potential."
This year’s GCSE results, released across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, reflect a continued adjustment following the return to pre-pandemic grading standards. Nationally, the proportion of top grades (7/A and above) fell to 21.6%, down from 22.4% in 2023 and significantly lower than the 28.9% peak seen in 2021 when teacher-assessed grades were used. The overall pass rate (grades 4/C and above) also declined slightly to 66.4%, compared to 67.8% last year.
Sacred Heart High School showed marked improvement in its 2025 GCSE results. 49% of grades were at 7–9, representing a 12% increase from the previous year and 31% of grades were at 8 or 9. Additionally, 83% of grades were at 5 or above, and 94% were at 4 or above. The proportion of top grades (8–9) rose to 31%, indicating a growing number of high achievers. The school attributes this success to a balance of academic support and pastoral care.
Headteacher Mrs O'Donovan said, 'We are thrilled to see our students excel and reach their full potential. We recognise this cohort had a very different transition to secondary school because of the effects of the covid pandemic. We look forward to seeing the amazing things they will accomplish in the future.'
The West London Free School (WLFS) has reported its strongest GCSE outcomes since opening, with significant year-on-year improvements across key performance indicators. Among the 133 pupils who sat exams this year, 63% of all grades were awarded at Grade 7–9, up from 51% in 2024. A quarter of all entries achieved the highest possible mark, Grade 9.
Additional metrics show that 87% of grades were at Grade 5–9, and 93% at Grade 4–9. The school’s Attainment 8 score rose to 6.8, compared with 6.4 the previous year. In core subjects, 90% of students achieved a pass in both English and Mathematics, while 79% met the requirements for the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), a marked increase from 63% in 2024.
School leaders attributed the results to sustained academic focus and support across the school community. They also highlighted outcomes for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, noting that average grades for this group were reported to be two levels above the national average.
West London Free School students open their GCSE results
Westside School in Galena Road which is an alternative provision secondary saw 114 exams sat with a 93% success rate.
Westside's Batuhan called his school amazing
Headteacher Pani Matsangos said, “We are immensely inspired by each and every one of our Year 11s. Their success is measured not only in the wonderful set of grades they have achieved, but also in the remarkable young people they have become throughout their journey here at Westside."
GCSE student Batuhan collected his results and explained: "This is an amazing school, and they've helped me a lot. I'm really proud."
Godolphin and Latymer School delivered another year of exceptional results. In 2025, 89% of GCSE grades were at 8–9, placing the school sixth among London’s top-performing secondary schools.
The school said, “We are delighted that the committed hard work of the pupils and all those who supported them over the past two years has been rewarded in this way. We are excited to see our largest ever Sixth Form cohort launching this September; they are strongly placed to make a great success of the next stage of their education and to contribute positively as leaders of our student community.”
Latymer Upper School reported its ‘best ever’ GCSE results with an impressive 96% of all grades between 7 and 9, with 62% of those being grade 9s—the highest possible. Over three-quarters of students achieved exclusively grades 7–9, and 75 pupils earned only 8s and 9s.
Latymer Upper students with their GCSE results. Picture: Latymer Upper
In London, students continued to outperform the national average, with inner London boroughs in particular seeing a higher proportions of top grades, with selective and high-performing comprehensives contributing to the trend.
The results come amid wider debates about the fairness and consistency of grading, especially for students who began their secondary education during lockdowns. Education leaders have noted that this year’s cohort faced unique challenges, having missed substantial classroom time in Years 7 and 8. Despite this, many schools reported resilience and progress, with some headteachers calling for renewed investment in catch-up programmes and mental health support.
The Department for Education has reiterated its commitment to maintaining grading standards, while acknowledging the need to support students through the transition.
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