Record Breaking Value Added for Class of 2026
We are celebrating yet another exceptional year of GCSE success, with a sensational overall value-added score of +1.38, up from +0.89 last year and nearly tripling the national gold standard of 0.5.
For those looking ahead to GCSE study, our latest Options Booklet can be found at the bottom of this page.
On average across every subject, each pupil achieved 1.38 grades higher than expected, based on their baseline assessment, surpassing last year’s remarkable value-added score. An astonishing 60% of pupils had an average value-added of one grade higher or more in every subject. Seventeen subjects (see list below) added, on average, one or more grades above expectation, with four subjects adding two or more.
Value Added
10.4% of pupils average VA 3+
24% of pupils average VA of 2+
60% of pupils average VA of 1+
With nearly half of all results (47.2%) achieving top grades (9-7), more than double the national average (23.1%). With more than a quarter of GCSEs awarded at grade 9 or 8, and and over 1 in 9 (11.7%) grade 9 – more than double the national figure (5.2%).
One pupil gained straight 9s, another achieved 100% in both Maths and Statistics and two pupils gained 100% in Textiles.
Overall, our pupils achieved a 94.5% pass rate, nearly 1.5 times the national average (grades 9 to 4) across all subjects (up 2.5% on last year). 38.8% of our pupils gained a grade 9, 56.7% achieved a grade 8 and 79.1% at least a grade 7.
An incredible 13 subjects saw a 100% pass rate – Art, Biology, Chemistry, Dance, Drama, French, Further Maths, Geography, ICT, Music, Physics and Textiles. Statistics gained 100% at Grade 9.
16 subjects achieved over 40% at the highest grades (grades 9 to 7). For the full list of highest-performing subjects please see the list below.
“We are immensely proud of all our pupils. As a school that welcomes pupils with a wide range of strengths, talents and academic abilities, each cohort is unique, making the consistency of our outcomes all the more remarkable.
This is another record-breaking year for Ballard and that sustained success is testament to the hard work of our pupils, and the quality of teaching, individual support and encouragement they receive throughout their time at Ballard. Congratulations to all!”
Mr Stuart Turner, Headmaster.
Value Added
Subjects achieving +1 to +1.49
Art, Business Studies, Drama, History, Maths, Spanish, PE
Subjects achieving +1.5 to 1.99
Dance, Design Technology, English Language, English Literature, Food Technology, Textiles
Subjects achieving +2 or more
Computer Science, French, Geography, Music
Highest Grades (Grade 9 to 7)
30%+ Business Studies (33%), Drama (30%), PE (33%) and Combined Science (32%)
40%+ Art (43%), DT (42%), English Literature (49%), Food Technology (44%) and Spanish (44%)
50%+ Biology (54%) Computer Science (50%), English Language (55%), History (50%), Maths (54%) and Textiles (50%).
60%+ Chemistry (69%), French (70%), Geography (67%), Music (91%) and Physics (69%).
For details of all our GCSE courses, please view our GCSE Options Booklet:
