We are proud of the fantastic GCSE results achieved by our year 11 students, from all starting points and backgrounds – we have seen a significant growth in their outcomes. They have demonstrated resilience, yielding excellent results that have enabled them all to take the next step in their journey. We are proud that our progress score of +0.04, which exceeds nationally expected progress, means that this outgoing cohort surpassed the national average of all students. The chart below illustrates our school’s progress scores from 2017 to 2026, excluding years impacted by COVID-19. The red dotted trend line highlights a clear upward trajectory, demonstrating consistent improvement in our progress scores over the past decade. This positive trend reflects the dedication of our staff and students to continuous growth and achievement.
Students from all backgrounds and starting points have shown significant improvement in their progress compared to their expected trajectory. It is worth noting that students from all starting points, regardless of their background and needs, are measured against one another nationally and is dependent only on their starting point.
In particular, disadvantaged students have continued their excellent trajectory towards achieving progress against expected standards and now sit less than a quarter of a grade below their national counterparts on average, regardless of their needs.
In terms of students with additional educational needs, the year group made less progress than in the previous year (2025: -0.77 and 2024: -0.42), which was contrary to the trend we had observed.
Our Attainment 8 score has followed a similar trajectory, reaching 43.62, which corresponds to an average grade between 4 and 5 (4.4). This improvement is reflected in an average grade of between 3 and 4 in 2017 (3.9).
Students arrive at The Dorcan Academy and are assessed, allowing us to compare their progress against that of students who performed equivalently to them. The students in the 2024-25 school year were carefully matched, using an approved method by SISRA Analytics, which compared the data of over 225,000 students.
In our core subjects, we are proud to celebrate achievements exceeding the national average, as well as across many of our GCSE subjects.
In 2025, nearly 45% of our students achieved English and Maths at grade 5 or above. In addition, over 61% of students achieved English and Maths at grade 4 or above. (Grade 4 is equated to the legacy pass at C grade). These results reflect the sustained and continued efforts of our students, as well as the ongoing improvement of the academy.
In English, over 73% achieved grades 9-4 (the equivalent of legacy pass at C or above); and over 62% of our students attained 9-5 in at least one of their English qualifications.
In Maths, over 67% achieved grades 9-4, and nearly 49% achieved grades 9-5.
In Science, 69% achieved the equivalency of at least one grade 9-4 (minimum of a grade 43), and over 45% achieved the equivalency of at least one grade 9-5 (minimum of a grade 54).
In 2025, 13.4% of students were entered for the EBacc suite of qualifications, with an average points’ score of 3.73. 82% of these students obtained a standard pass, with grades ranging from 9 to 4, and 68% of students achieved a strong pass, with grades ranging from 9 to 5.
According to the Department for Education, our most recent destination data shows that, of the 118 students who left The Dorcan Academy in 2022, 88% went on to sustained education, employment, or training. This was an anomaly year for the academy, where we are typically above the national and local averages. It is therefore essential to note the challenges faced by this year group, who COVID had significantly impacted during their GCSE years. We are currently on track in all areas of the Government’s Gatsby Standards, which ensure the quality of Careers provision.
