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Pupils at St. Edmund’s are celebrating an outstanding set of GCSE results, reflecting their hard work and achievement across a broad range of subjects.

Before half term, our Lower Prep pupils in Forms 3 and 4 delighted audiences with a wonderful performance of Winnie the Pooh KIDS. Bringing A.A. Milne’s much-loved literary classic to life on stage, the pupils performed with enthusiasm, confidence and plenty of charm.

Review from National School Theatre Awards on our recent Senior production of West Side Story. 

Public speaking plays a central role in life at St. Edmund’s, beginning in the early years and continuing right through to GCSE and beyond. From the moment our youngest pupils find their voices, we encourage them to express themselves with confidence, clarity and creativity.

Pupils are given regular opportunities to speak in front of others, whether through class presentations, assemblies performed for parents, or taking to the stage in our larger drama productions and showcases. These experiences help pupils develop self-belief, presence and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.

Many of our pupils also choose to take LAMDA lessons, which further strengthen their confidence and performance skills. These sessions help to refine articulation, expression and presentation, while also nurturing creativity and resilience which are skills that benefit pupils far beyond the classroom.

In the Prep School, all pupils participate in our structured public speaking programme, which is built around three strands: poetry recitation, declamation and debating. These activities culminate in friendly competitions that encourage pupils to challenge themselves in a supportive environment. The emphasis is not only on performance, but on building confidence, listening skills and the ability to think on one’s feet.

Johanna Record, Head of English in our Prep School comments: “Through positive experience and practice, we aim to take the fear out of public speaking so that our pupils can address a room confidently in their adult lives.  We want them to feel able to go for top roles in their careers, to be comfortable in social situations and to be able to make their voice heard.”

These competitions provide an excellent platform for pupils to practise and refine their public speaking abilities. Presenting to an audience helps them develop poise, persuasive communication and the confidence to share ideas clearly and thoughtfully.

Senior pupils often have speakers and workshops around public speaking, Ben Bellack, Head of English Senior School comments:

“Public speaking is not simply about performance; it is about learning to think clearly, speak with purpose and engage thoughtfully with others. Through workshops, visiting speakers and opportunities to present and debate, our senior pupils develop the confidence to articulate their ideas and challenge perspectives with maturity. These are vital skills, not only for examinations and further education, but for leadership and life beyond school.”

Alongside pupil development, our teaching staff recently undertook valuable training during our start-of-term INSET, with a focus on artificial intelligence, St Edmund’s digital strategy and the evolving role of AI in education. As the format of examinations and coursework continues to change with the advances in AI, oral communication skills are set to become more important than ever.

By placing such strong emphasis on public speaking and communication, we are equipping our pupils with essential skills for the future: skills that will serve them in further education, careers and life beyond school. This is all part of our commitment to providing an Education for a Lifetime.

We are delighted to welcome Peter Beard as the new Director of Sport at St. Edmund’s. Peter joined the school in September at the start of this academic year and now leads sport across the whole school.

We caught up with Peter to find out more about his background, experience, and his vision for sport at St Edmund’s moving forward.

Pupils at St. Edmund’s are celebrating another successful year of GCSE results, with excellent outcomes across a wide range of subjects.

Head, Adam Walliker praised the year group’s achievements, saying:

“I am delighted to congratulate all our St. Edmund’s pupils on such an impressive set of GCSE results. These grades not only reflect their academic strengths across a broad range of subjects but also highlight their ability to balance study with wider commitments whether it is in sport, music, drama and beyond. Their determination, creativity and resilience have been inspiring, and I am immensely proud of their achievements. I look forward to seeing how they continue to flourish in their journeys ahead.’'

This year’s results reflect both the dedication of pupils and the commitment of staff. Despite national headlines about falling pass rates, St. Edmund’s continues to achieve above-average success. The school recorded an overall pass rate of 96% (against a national average of 67%), matching last year’s strong performance, with 85% of grades at 9–5 (a “good pass” suitable for A Level study), up from 82.4% last year.

High standards were achieved across key subjects, with an impressive 100% pass rate in English and in Mathematics. Combined, this meant 100% of pupils achieved a pass in both English and Maths, maintaining the same excellent standard as last year.

Several subjects achieved perfect outcomes, with English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Art, Music, Sports Science, and Computer Science all securing a 100% pass rate.

The proportion of top grades remained strong with 43% of grades awarded at 9–7 (the old A*/A grade - national average 22%) and almost two thirds of pupils gaining six or more grades 6 to 9.  Value-added scores for the cohort indicate that on average students improved their predicted grades by 0.75 per subject, a tribute to the innovative academic arrangements, high standards of pastoral and academic care, and an average class size of 15 pupils.

Simon Hyett, Head of Senior Academic, added:

“I am delighted to see the hard work of so many pupils rewarded. GCSEs are tougher than ever and the demands the world places on young people are unrelenting, but they have gone forward with positivity and courage. As they go on to their future schools and colleges, I wish them all the best knowing that the skills and friendships they have developed here will last a lifetime.”

These results come in a year when the national GCSE pass rate has dropped to 67.4%, highlighting the continued resilience and determination of St. Edmund’s pupils.

For media enquiries please contact Jess Dawson at : marketing@saintedmunds.co.uk