21 Aug 2025

All round success abounds as Brentwood School celebrate excellent GCSE results

Alongside celebrating impressive GCSE results, our pupils have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the wider life of the School, balancing academic achievement with an extraordinary range of co-curricular and community commitments.

From excelling in music, drama, debating, and sport, they have shown that personal growth flourishes when challenge is met with passion. Many have represented Brentwood at county and national level, while others have dedicated their time to charitable initiatives and supporting their younger peers through our mentoring programme. Together, they embody Brentwood’s values ‘Virtue, Learning, Manners,’ demonstrating that true success is measured not only by results on paper but also by the character, confidence, and compassion developed along the way.

No fewer than seventeen students achieved 70+ points in total, with some 139 grade 9s and 30 grade 8s between them, an outstanding achievement.

Up-and-down the country, outgoing Year 11s joined their Senior School in the middle of the two national Covid lockdowns, but five years on that seemed a distant memory for Brentwood students as they celebrated their many successes The vast majority will continue into our Sixth Form, where they can choose from three pathways: A Levels, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, or BTEC qualifications. Brentwood remains one of the few independent schools in the UK to offer three Sixth Form academic pathways, enabling students to follow the course best suited to their strengths and aspirations.

One of the day’s high scorers was Lionel M, who achieved nine top grades (9) and one grade 8, all whilst being a member of the UK Youth Parliament, complimented by his longstanding commitment to the School's successful Public Speaking team. Lionel has certainly thrown himself into everything Brentwood has to offer - in addition to Public Speaking he has been a stalwart of Model United Nations, Rugby, Fencing and Performing Arts. Lionel will now study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths at A Level to help him realise his dream of studying ‘Medicine with a sprinkling of Politics’, as he puts it. Reflecting on his time at Brentwood thus far, Lionel said “You have to approach everything you do with 100% of the effort and the potential that you have, and just work as hard as you can academically and outside of the academics. Brentwood has a really good balance of both and you can be supported in all areas at the same time.”

Another high flier, Felicity B-Q, was relieved to discover six grade 9s and four grade 8s in her brown envelope. Joined by her parents, who are active members of the Parent Sounding Board, Felicity was ‘moved to happy tears’. A Music and Academic Scholar, Felicity has just returned from the School’s music tour to Belgium and is a dedicated multi-instrumentalist, the leader of the school's Big Band and cornerstone in the majority of the School's choral and instrumental ensembles. Felicity is a prime example of how active involvement can go hand in hand with consistently achieving outstanding academic results. Felicity, who thanked the music team for being ‘pastorally supportive’ was continuing the music theme with a celebratory evening at The Great Gatsby.

Fellow talented saxophonist and music scholar Osi B has excelled academically, earning five grade 9s and five grade 8s, and has made the most of his post-exam summer in a remarkable way. He spent the holiday busking across Europe with his father to raise funds for Cancer Research, collecting an impressive £4,274 for the charity. Osi described the experience as ‘the time of my life’. Osi is preparing to undertake the IB Diploma Programme in the Sixth Form which will provide him with the academic rigour and global outlook to pursue his future ambitions at Berkeley College, New York City.

Lionel, Felicity and Osi are all committed members of the many ensembles and choirs at Brentwood, dedicating almost eight hours each week to rehearsals. Remarkably, even during their GCSE exams they never missed a single rehearsal or performance- a powerful testament to their discipline, passion for music, and proof that at Brentwood, academic success and co-curricular excellence truly go hand in hand.

Music at Brentwood has a burgeoning reputation as one of the strongest in the UK and two of our GCSE students were pioneers of our new Specialist Music Programme, which is designed to provide elite coaching, mentoring, and performance opportunities as part of the School’s holistic curriculum. Among the programme’s first cohort collecting results today were flautist and pianist Maria T, who was ‘overjoyed’ with her 68 points and will embark on A levels in Music, Biology and Psychology in September. Ian Davies Music Scholar and School Orchestra’s principal double bassist Lily B also struck the right cord as she celebrated with a great 62 points.

Swimmer Saxon M recently made waves at the GB Aquatic Championships where he secured a bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke. Today, Saxon matched his sporting success with academic achievement, collecting a total of 68 points in his top eight subjects. Sports scholar Daisy E, excels in tennis and hockey, and has contributed significantly to sporting success at the School, all whilst dedicating herself to her academic studies, resulting in two grade 9s, three grade 8s, three grade 7s and one grade 4.

Footballers Josh H and Joe P, both selected to represent the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) in the U16 national squad, collected their results today, scoring 61 and 63 points, respectively. The pair are preparing to return to ISFA training camps this autumn and will continue to balance academic commitments with the demands of elite sport, impressing both on and off the pitch. Meanwhile, fellow footballer Tom W started a 2-year scholarship with Queen’s Park Rangers in July and wanted to thank Director of Sport Mr Gamester, for ‘all the support and encouragement’ during his time as a Sport Scholar at Brentwood.

Cricketer Amar D, who is looking forward to studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics in the Sixth Form, already has his future mapped out with a ‘view to doing Economics at university and a career in investment banking or private equities’. Amar’s mum, who also sits on the School’s Parent Sounding Board, said she ‘was exceptionally proud of Amar who was very hard working and had achieved the grades he deserved’. He, along with the other 17 who scored 70+ points, was in receipt of the Headmaster’s Academic Honours pin which was ‘a really proud moment.’

Camila C, recipient of both the Bixby Prize for Art and the Spivey Prize for Biology at this year’s Speech Day, secured an impressive eight Grade 9s and two Grade 8s as ‘all the hard work paid off’. She is excited to continue her studies at A Level in Maths, Further Maths, Religious Studies and Economics. Fellow top scorer Stefan N, a valued member of the School’s Boarding community, will pursue the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form, building on his outstanding academic success of seven grade 9s and one grade 8. Meanwhile, Jacob W, a strong cricketer and member of the School’s golf team, who, in April reached the Independent Schools Golf Association National Finals, is looking forward to undertaking a BTEC in Sport.

Stefan, along with no fewer than 42 of his year group, is a Peer Mentor, a position one has to apply for and interview to obtain. This programme sees older students supporting younger pupils with strategies to improve academic and motivational outcomes and reflects the School’s values encouraging responsibility, compassion, and leadership. By dedicating time to the success of others, Stefan and his fellow mentors demonstrate that true achievement lies as much in service and character as it does in personal accomplishment.

Hot on the heels of last week’s superb A Level and BTEC results, today’s GCSE achievements mean a number of Brentwood families are celebrating twice over. Today, Alastair D picked up an impressive 68 points after elder brother, and former Deputy Head of School Jonathan secured ABB last week, and a place at Sheffield University. Meanwhile, sisters Chloe and Hannah D are celebrating Chloe’s AAA at A Level and Hannah’s 63 points, which she was ‘more than happy with’.

Head of Year, Adam Clarke said: "A huge congratulations to all of our Year 11 students receiving their GCSE results today. This year group has faced the inevitable ups and downs of adolescence as well as having started their Senior School journey in challenging circumstances, but they have demonstrated maturity, perseverance, and a strong sense of community. They should be proud of the effort, determination and resilience they have shown throughout their GCSE courses. We wish them every success in their next chapter.”

Headmaster Michael Bond added: ‘Over the course of the last week, we have celebrated an extraordinary range and depth of successes our students have worked so hard to achieve, with the support of their teachers and parents. Our outgoing Year 11s have shown, once again, that academic achievement and co-curricular commitment go hand-in-hand. We look forward to supporting them as they move into Sixth Form and seeing what they will go on to achieve in the years ahead. For now, they deserve a big pat on the back and the chance to enjoy their well-deserved post-results celebrations over the coming days.’

The results complete a summer of academic success which saw impressive International Baccalaureate Diploma awards - confirming Brentwood’s position among the Top IB schools in the UK - and excellent A Level and BTEC Extended Diploma results. When combined, 56.7% of this year’s grades were A* or A (or equivalent) and 86.7% A*, A or B.

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14 Aug 2025

Brentwood students celebrate excellent results across three academic pathways

Exam results are an important milestone as the School’s outgoing Upper Sixth take the next steps in their journey of learning, leadership, and service, and the Class of 25 are all set to make their mark in the world in fields that range from law and the creative arts to medicine and aviation. An impressive 82% of A Level results were graded A* - B, the school’s best since the last major reform of A Levels a decade ago.

The 133-strong A Level cohort celebrated a 100% pass rate, with 43% graded at A*-A.

Stellar BTEC results saw 11 students achieve the equivalent of A*A*A* at A Level; 10 the equivalent of A*A*A, and a further 8 the equivalent of A*AA, and all 37 BTEC students secured their first-choice destination at universities (including UCL, Bristol, Exeter, Nottingham, Bath, York and Liverpool), highly sought-after degree apprenticeships or employment.

Brentwood is one of the few independent schools in the country to offer three Sixth Form pathways - the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the BTEC Extended Diploma (in Business and Sport), and A Levels - and when combined, an impressive 57% of results were the equivalent of A*or A and 87% A*, A or B.

July’s outstanding IB Diploma results returned an average of 38 points and saw three students (Achinta K, Sofia S, and Laura A) achieve the 45-point maximum, meaning Brentwood remains one of the top IB Schools in the UK. The world average IB points total was 30.6.

As befits a school with an international outlook, the new cohort of ‘Old Brentwoods’ includes a number who will be heading overseas for their next chapter. America-bound are Luke F (A*AB), off on an academic scholarship to Binghamton University in New York; and Edward L (AAB and A* EPQ), who has secured a golf scholarship at Tusculum University in Tennessee majoring in Business Management.

In addition, 9 students are heading off to study Law, including Elsie P, who achieved 44 points in the IB Diploma and will be heading off to Cambridge; 6 are future doctors, dentists, or veterinarians; 7 more will take their first steps towards becoming healthcare professionals (ranging from Pharmacology to Biomedical Science) and 3 students - Max K, Sahil N and Harry R - will be navigating the skies as they train as pilots!

Fletcher M (A*A*A*, A*EPQ) will be joining his twin brother Connor (A*AB, A in EPQ) at the University of Nottingham, and while Connor studies Aerospace Engineering, Fletcher will spend the next 5 years qualifying as a veterinary surgeon. “Brentwood has so much variety, our highlights span from trips abroad to House events to sport.” Fletcher also thanked his teachers for giving him that ‘extra push’ to achieve top marks.

At Brentwood, we believe in the maxim that the busiest people are usually the most successful and this year’s results provide further supporting evidence: Top scorer Adrian S, who was awarded A*A*A*A* and A* in his EPQ, is off to read Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. Adrian, a virtuoso pianist, recently performed the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto in the Prom Concert accompanied by the School’s Symphony Orchestra.

Outgoing Head of School, Joseph P, (A*A*A*A and A* EPQ), who played for the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) England team for two years and was offered several US football scholarships, has decided on a future in Accounting & Finance at the London School of Economics.

Picking up his manila envelope, Joseph said he felt quite nostalgic, having spent the last couple of days reminiscing about school days ‘full of highs’ and all the good things that he had experienced at Brentwood, from sports to wearing the celebrated Head of School blue gown.

Cycling prodigy Harry T, the World U20 record holder for number of miles cycled in a 24 hour period (achieving 333.6 miles (537km) at the World Time Trial Championships in California) is off to the University of Nottingham (with 3 A*s and A* EPQ) to study Aerospace Engineering. Harry, who had scaled back his training in recent months to focus on exam preparation, has just completed his latest two-wheeled challenge - riding alongside (or perhaps in front of and behind…) his dad in the London-Edinburgh-London event, Britain's greatest cycle challenge; a 1,530-kilometre (950-mile) self-supported ride across the United Kingdom, which was curtailed to ‘only’ 1,000 kilometres due to Storm Floris. Harry, who will no doubt be an integral part of Nottingham’s cycling team, joined his family for an early A Levels celebration last night as they chose to ‘celebrate the work he had put in rather than the results.’

Performing Arts stalwarts Charlotte D and Lizzie D not only shared the lead role of Elle in this year’s Winter Musical Legally Blonde, but also shared the same excellent results - A*A*A and A* EPQ. In the spirit of diversity, that’s where the similarity ends as Charlotte heads to the University of Nottingham to read Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, while Lizzie will be travelling a little further north to read English Literature at Durham University.

Like several of her contemporaries, Charlotte, who aims to work in Artificial Intelligence, was straight off to rehearsals for the Music Department’s upcoming tour of Belgium. Lizzie’s dad Mark, who is also an Old Brentwood, said: “She’s my proudest achievement. Lizzie’s made the most of every opportunity and proves that you can have it both- academic & co-curricular.” Exemplifying the School’s Values, Lizzie was awarded this year’s prestigious Lesley Hall Prize for Virtue Learning and Manners.

Fellow Performing Arts alumni Bessie T, daughter of actress Lucy Benjamin, will continue her musical studies at the University of Edinburgh. Bessie, who was joined by her parents and sister, was ‘very happy’ with her results (A*BB and A EPQ) and said she was excited to embark on her next adventure, ‘taking everything from Brentwood away with her’. Looking ahead to a career in the performing arts, she joked, "I am my mother’s daughter,” adding, “I feel I am just an advert for the Performing Arts Department, I would not be where I am at all without their nurture.’

Following the trend towards employment and degree apprenticeships are Emma B, (A*A*B and A* EPQ) with a bespoke degree apprenticeship at BrightStar, and Eloise S-B (A*AB and EPQ A) with a degree apprenticeship with Essex Police.

Sophia M (A*A*A & A* EPQ), who will be embarking on a 2D Digital Animation course at the University of Hertfordshire, said she had loved getting involved with the vast range of co-curricular activities, such as the music programme, which were so different from her academic studies.

Brume O said it had been an intense two years, but he was so grateful for his A*A*AB, which will see him off to read Mechanical Engineering. “My results wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support of the Maths Department,” he added.

BTEC Business student Louis T, who was awarded the Bean Prize for Virtue, Learning Manners at this year’s Speech Day, and achieved the equivalent of A*A*A* at A Level, said: “I am just so proud of all of my mates and can’t wait to celebrate together”.

Director of Sixth Form, Mr Tim Sellers, said: “It is fantastic to see the achievements of all our outgoing Upper Sixth Students as they look to their future ‘Beyond Brentwood’. It is always so exciting to see the range of pathways our students take, such as entering universities in the UK and across the world, or taking up apprenticeships and employment roles. We are so proud of all they have achieved through their time in the Sixth Form and how they have strived to achieve their very best academically as well as be central to the vast array of sporting, co-curricular, and performing arts opportunities in school. It has been a pleasure to see them thrive during their time in the Sixth Form, and we all look forward to hearing of all their future successes and achievements!’’

Headmaster Michael Bond said of the departing Upper Sixth cohort: “We are very proud of our outgoing Upper Sixth students for their academic achievements across all three of our Sixth Form pathways, and grateful for the hard work of their teachers and support of their parents in helping them achieve these grades. Much more than this, however, we are proud of the young adults they have become, whether they have been with us for 2, 5, 7, or (in the case of 15 students) 15 years. At a time when there is so much pessimism in the news and on social media, they have reminded us that there is good reason to be optimistic about the future in the shape of excellent young people like those who are leaving us this summer. Within the year group, there have been enthusiastic Bursary Ambassadors; supportive Peer Mentors and Mental Health First Aiders; hugely talented musicians, dancers, actors, sportsmen/women; and many who have contributed in ways too numerous to list. They are an excellent group of young people who have contributed greatly to our community, and we wish them well as they take their energy, talent, and (above all) values with them into a wide range of courses, careers, and lives.’’

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07 Jul 2025

Brentwood’s IB Students Shine as High Achievers & Global Citizens

Established in 1968 to foster open and enlightened minds, the IB Diploma is now taught in almost 5,000 schools across 153 countries and is one of the most respected educational programmes worldwide. The maximum number of points an individual student can achieve in the IB Diploma is 45, and the worldwide average in 2023 was around 32.

The Class of 2025 at Brentwood have returned an average of 37.3 points (prior to any remarks), which is likely to maintain the school’s position - now firmly established over a number of years - as one of the Top 10 IB Schools in the UK. Last year’s worldwide average points total was 32.7.

Furthermore, 28% of the cohort scored 40 points or more: to put that into context, usually only around 11% of students worldwide reach or exceed this total.

Within that group of elite performers, two scored the maximum of 45 points, an achievement matched by only around 0.3% of students worldwide: Achinta K, who has had a busy year serving as Secretary General of the School’s Model United Nations Society as well as running the London Marathon, is looking forward to studying Economics, Finance and Data Science at Imperial College; and Sofia S will also be joining some of the brightest and best students from around the world when she begins her Law degree at the London School of Economics.

‘This is the perfect end to the most amazing 15 years,” said a delighted Achinta. ‘My parents couldn’t be happier!’

Sofia, a Mill Hill boarder and one of four students off to study Law at some of the most prestigious universities in the UK, added: ‘I am absolutely shocked and surprised but so happy.’

In typical Brentwood fashion, many of our IB students also managed to involve themselves in the wider life of the School while maintaining such high academic standards. Chloe L, who achieved 41 points and a place to read Biomedical Science at the University of Bath, co-captained our successful Fencing Team, competing as one of the top Schools in the UK and still found time to play a significant role in our impressive musical programme as pianist, violinist and drummer. Martha M, one of three students who will be embarking on a degree that includes a language, has also played a significant part in School music over her seven years at Brentwood, and was one of two students (along with Achinta) who wrote their Extended Essay in a foreign language, securing the top grade in the process.

Perhaps most pleasing of all, however, is the fact that so many of the IB Class of 2025 have achieved outstanding academic results alongside leadership positions they have discharged with such distinction. Elsie P, who achieved 43 points and is hoping to read Law at Cambridge, was both House Captain and the leading Cadet across all three services in her final year at Brentwood; Nicolò P (36 points) led Hough, our boys’ boarding house, and Miryem D (38 points) was House Captain of Mill Hill, our girls’ boarding house. Cristina V-A, one of our Deputy Heads of School, was ‘over the moon’ after securing an impressive 41 points and is heading off to Amsterdam to study PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics), while 6 other students from our IB cohort served as Senior Prefects during their Upper Sixth year.

Further illustrating the international appeal of the IB Diploma, another three boarders will continue their studies at prestigious universities overseas; Shuyi W has a place at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, to study Hospitality Management; Irfan B is going to University in Sarajevo to study Medicine, and Joud E-W holds places at Melbourne and Hong Kong to study Mechanical Engineering.

Mr Jonathan Barfield Moore, Deputy Head Academic, said: ‘The IB Diploma has a reputation for being a demanding pathway; IB students at Brentwood work hard and these results show the benefits of pushing yourself and striving for excellence. At a time when some are questioning the merits of independent education, the IB experience adds value to our students through character development as well as academic success. If asked, “Is it worth it?”, I think the answer is irrefutably, “Yes”. Our students should be proud of their achievements and can look forward with confidence to bright futures.’

Acting Director of IB, Mrs Alexandra Roberts, added: ‘It has been a pleasure to support this year’s IB cohort and to see their work ethic and engagement reflected in their results. Their determination and the breadth of subjects studied between them is testament to the diverse interests of the cohort, emphasised by the variety of courses they are intending to study. I have no doubt that they will harness the skills and knowledge they have learned and be able to utilise it as global citizens. We wish them the very best beyond Brentwood and I would like to congratulate them on their successes within the school. ’

Mr Tim Sellers, Director of Sixth Form, commented on the success of this year’s IB cohort: ‘‘We are incredibly proud of their attainment and all the fantastic grades that have been achieved. Their hard work and commitment has been reflected in all that they do. To see all that our IB students have contributed to our Sixth Form and wider school community over the past two years, in so many different areas of school life, is so impressive. They have been role models and leaders and embody the values we hold. We look forward to hearing of their future successes across such a diverse range of different academic disciplines both in the UK and across the world!’

Headmaster Michael Bond completed the congratulatory messages: ‘Brentwood’s commitment to the IB Diploma is testament to our global outlook and the belief that today’s students will be tomorrow’s problem-solvers. We are proud of the academic achievements of our outgoing IB cohort, of course, but even more so of the positive contributions they have made to our community in terms of both leadership and service. They will go on to achieve a great deal across many different fields, but most importantly, they will do so with the intention to make a positive difference to the world that sits at the heart of the IB Diploma. My congratulations go to our students, and my thanks to all those who have worked so hard to support them during their Sixth Form years.’

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