Putney School Students Become Record Breakers
Outstanding performances include one pupil getting 14 top grade GCSEs
Ark Academy’s Joe hopes to go on to study for A-levels in psychology and sociology
August 22, 2025
There has been a series of the best ever GCSE results across schools in the Putney area this year as well as some outstanding individual performances.
This has come against a background in which the cohort were being marked to pre-pandemic standards despite a significant part of their education being disrupted by lockdown.
Staff welcomed students at Ark Putney Academy as they opened “some record-breaking results in English and Maths”, said principal Alison Downey, adding “we are so proud of all our students”.
Overcoming adversity to secure seven GCSEs, including a grade 8 in English literature, 17-year-old Joe Pain said he was “overjoyed”.
“It was difficult and I wasn’t expecting to get the grades I did, so I feel really happy and overjoyed,” explained Joe, who has cerebral palsy and completed all his exams verbally.
Dad John added, “He had massive hurdles to overcome and he’s been successful with a lot of hard work from everyone. So many severely disabled children go through the system and get overlooked but he entered Ark Putney with expectations of GCSEs and he met them.”
Putney High School has reported its strongest GCSE results to date, with 53% of grades awarded at the highest level (grade 9) and 79% falling within the top two bands (grades 9–8). The results follow a year of notable academic achievement, including record-breaking A Level outcomes earlier in the summer.
Students performed well across a broad range of subjects. In English Literature, 84% of grades were 9–8, with 66% at grade 9. French saw 94% of grades at 9–8 and 78% at grade 9, while History and Drama also recorded high proportions of top grades. STEM subjects remained strong, with nearly three-quarters of grades in Physics, Chemistry and Biology at 9–8.
Putney High School pupils with their GCSE results
The school’s newly launched creative and digital arts faculty also saw high attainment. Art achieved 100% grades at 9–8, while Computer Science, DT Product Design and DT Textiles recorded 92%, 89% and 75% respectively. Music and Maths followed with 85% and 79% of grades at 9–8.
Modern and classical languages were another area of strength, with top results in Mandarin (88% 9–8), Latin (92%), Greek (83%) and Italian (82%).
Individual achievements included Nathalie Endemann with 14 grade 9s, Mae Losson with 12, and Florence Grose, who combined her studies with competitive rowing and earned 11 grade 9s alongside medals at the Home International Regatta.
Nathalie Endemann secured 14 grade 9s at GCSE
Headteacher Jo Sharrock praised the cohort’s commitment and resilience, describing the results as “very well deserved” and acknowledging the support of staff and families
Judi Gasser, Wandsworth Council Cabinet Member for Children, said “I want to say “Well done!” to every student receiving their results today. We know how much work has gone into getting here, and we recognise the support from teachers, school staff, families and friends.
“Whatever your next step, you should be proud of what you achieved.”
This year’s GCSE results, released across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, reflect a continued adjustment following the return to pre-pandemic grading standards. Nationally, the proportion of top grades (7/A and above) fell to 21.6%, down from 22.4% in 2023 and significantly lower than the 28.9% peak seen in 2021 when teacher-assessed grades were used. The overall pass rate (grades 4/C and above) also declined slightly to 66.4%, compared to 67.8% last year.
In London, students continued to outperform the national average, with inner London boroughs in particular seeing a higher proportions of top grades, with selective and high-performing comprehensives contributing to the trend.
The results come amid wider debates about the fairness and consistency of grading, especially for students who began their secondary education during lockdowns. Education leaders have noted that this year’s cohort faced unique challenges, having missed substantial classroom time in Years 7 and 8. Despite this, many schools reported resilience and progress, with some headteachers calling for renewed investment in catch-up programmes and mental health support.
The Department for Education has reiterated its commitment to maintaining grading standards, while acknowledging the need to support students through the transition.
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