Thousands of pupils across North Yorkshire have collected a strong set of GCSE results as some of the county’s schools have witnessed record levels of success.
GCSE and equivalent exam results were released this morning (Thursday, 20 August), which will allow pupils to decide on their future in sixth-form, college or training.
Students and staff at Bedale High School have marked a third consecutive year of improvement and the school’s second successive record-breaking performance.
Three-quarters of students achieved grade 4 or above in both English and Mathematics, while more than half secured strong passes at grade 5 or above. The school’s attainment 8 score also rose to a record 47.8 per cent.
The headteacher of Bedale High School, Chris Stokes, said: “Today belongs to our students. Behind every one of these results is a young person who has worked incredibly hard, shown resilience and earned the right to feel immensely proud.
“The improvement since 2024 has been remarkable. However, these outcomes matter because of what they mean for our young people, not simply because they look impressive in a performance table.
“Every qualification gives a student greater choice over what they do next. That is what we mean by securing every child the gift of choice.”
The academic improvements have been accompanied by more than £750,000 of investment in the school’s facilities, curriculum and learning environment.
Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “Today is a special day for thousands of young people across the county, and I would like to offer my congratulations to every student receiving their GCSE and equivalent results.
“These results represent years of dedication, determination, and resilience, often met with challenges along the way.
“I would also like to thank parents, carers, families, teachers, and support staff whose encouragement, guidance and commitment have helped our young people to reach this important milestone.
“Whether your results are exactly what you hoped for or they lead you in a different direction, today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
“I wish every student the very best for the future and every success in whatever path they choose to follow.”
Ripon Grammar School recorded one of its highest proportions of top grades in recent years, with almost one in five awarded being the highest grade 9.
The results included 485 grades at 8 or 9, equivalent to the top A* grades under the former GCSE grading system, among the cohort of 128 students.
Among the top performers are 16-year-olds Angus Millar, from Nidderdale, and Tom Charlton, Aiden Jolly and Joel Buckley, all from Ripon.
National fell running champion and boarding student Angus achieved 10 grade 9s alongside two grade 7s.
Tom, who aims to study astrophysics at university, and Aiden, who hopes to become an engineer, gained 10 grade 9s and a grade 8, while aspiring doctor Joel achieved 10 grade 9s and a grade 7.
Overall, 58.4 per cent of all grades were at grades 7 to 9, while 92.5 per cent were at grades 5 to 9.
The headteacher of Ripon Grammar School, Jonathan Webb, said: “My congratulations go to all our students on these excellent GCSE results, which are the culmination of hard work, commitment and academic endeavour.
“We are particularly proud of the exceptional number of grade 9s achieved this year. The four students who achieved 10 grade 9s each have produced outstanding performances.
“Behind these headline results are many individual stories of achievement, and I would like to congratulate every member of Year 11 on their results.
“I would also like to thank our dedicated staff and the support of parents and families. These results provide our students with an excellent platform for the next stage of their education, and I wish them every success for the future.”
The corporate director for children and young people’s services, El Mayhew, has praised the county’s strong set of results in her first year with us.
She said: “Congratulations to the thousands of students receiving their GCSE and equivalent exam results today. You should be incredibly proud of what you have accomplished.
“Since joining the council, I have visited schools and met with headteachers to see the high standards of education being delivered to ensure that pupils reach their full potential.
“These strong results are testament to teachers, school staff, parents and carers for the support they provide.
“I wish all pupils every success as they move on to the next stage of their education, employment or training.”
There was also celebration at Boroughbridge High School as students collected their GCSE and BTEC results.
Phoebe Addison, who achieved ten GCSEs including three grade 9s and four grade 8s, said that she was thrilled with her results and thanked the staff for all the support she had received. She is looking forward to studying A Levels at York College.
The headteacher of Boroughbridge High School, Kathryn Stephenson, said: “Our staff have thoroughly enjoyed working with the class of 2026 and we are incredibly proud of them.
“We are delighted that their hard work, ambition and resilience is reflected in their excellent achievements and that they are moving on to a wide range of ambitious destinations.
“We wish them well and our thanks go to our parents, carers and governors for their continued support.”
National data has shown that the overall GCSE pass rate, marked a grade 4 or above, is 67.3 per cent, only slightly down from last year at 67.4 per cent.
The proportion of top grades, marked at grade 7 or above, has risen slightly from 21.9 per cent last year to 22 per cent this year.
Young people who are unsure about their next steps are encouraged to talk through their options with their family, school and careers adviser.