Pupils across the North East received their GCSE results today, and many were singled out for their outstanding grades. The gap in top grades between London and the North East widened again to 10.9 percentage points from 10.6 in 2025 and is now the largest since current records began. However, the gap between those achieving grade 4 or above decreased between the North East and the Capital to 6.5 percentage points. The percentage of pass grades awarded in the North East rose from 64.9% to 65.2%. Our region also outperformed the West Midlands, the North West, Yorkshire & the Humber, the East Midlands, and Wales for entries achieving a 4 or above.
Top Performers at Newcastle High School for Girls
At Newcastle High School for Girls (NHSG) there was a 100% pass rate with all entries graded 4 or above, while 63% were awarded grades 7-9. Sarah Moran achieved outstanding results in all her GCSEs including nine grade 9s. The 16-year-old says NHSG's revision sessions and the support of staff helped her to attain such exceptional marks. Sarah said: "I worked hard for my GCSEs and felt confident that I'd done well, but I was still nervous to see my results. I'm especially pleased with my Further Mathematics result and achieving a Grade 9 in Physics after getting Grade 8s in my mock exams." Sarah will continue her studies at NHSG Sixth Form with A Levels in French, Spanish, Geography and Chemistry. She hopes to study Law at university where there isn't a set subject requirement and has been able to choose A Levels she genuinely enjoys. Sarah added: "Languages have always been something I've enjoyed, and I'd love to be able to combine languages with Law in the future."
Sonia Sapare achieved nine grade 9s and two grade 8s at Newcastle High School for Girls. She will now undertake A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at NHSG as she works towards her goal of studying Medicine at university. Sonia said: "I wasn't expecting them, so I was really shocked. I did much better than I thought I would. I've always wanted to go into medicine, and now I'm even more certain it's what I want to do. It's such a fulfilling profession." Sonia is a member of YPAG, Newcastle's Young People's Advisory Group, where she helps discuss ways to improve healthcare services. She says the experience has strengthened her interest in a range of medical specialisms. After recently shadowing an anaesthetist during hospital work experience, she is also considering specialising in anaesthesia or in orthopaedics. She said: "I'm interested in breaking the male dominated world of orthopaedics."
Students from Other Schools Shine
Ruby Clark is celebrating six grade 9s and three grade 8s at GCSE at Dame Allan's School in Newcastle. The 16-year-old, from Hexham, Northumberland, will continue into the Sixth Form to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. She plans to study veterinary medicine at university. Ruby, who lives on a smallholding with chickens, ducks, geese, a horse, two sheep and ferrets, said: "I'm feeling so happy. I wasn't expecting so many 9s, so I'm really pleased. I really want to study veterinary medicine at university, with a view to becoming a farm vet."
Tallulah Dowden is not only the first female construction student in Cramlington Learning Village's history. She was also awarded a Distinction - the first in recent years in the subject. Tallulah also did well in her other subjects. She said: "As a year we were quite close knit and I got along with the people inside the class very well. I didn't think it was that much of a difference that I was a boy or a girl. You should be able to do things that people think aren't usual."
Jemina Anabraba achieved 8s and 9s in all subjects at Kenton School in Newcastle. She said: "I thought that I was going to get lower than I did so I was kinda nervous and wondering what I would do if I didn't get the grades that I wanted. But then I opened them and it felt like my soul went out of my body to be honest. It didn't feel real. It felt like I was opening someone else's results because I couldn't believe this had come from me. After a few minutes I got used to it and I feel confident like. My mum was ecstatic, she was really happy. She had been telling me that I should believe in myself." Jemina will now enrol into Sixth Form where she hopes to study science subjects with an aim to pursue a career in STEM.
More Outstanding Achievements
Whitley Bay High School student Susannah Potter achieved ten 9s and one 8. She said: "I am very happy with my results, I got ten 9s and one 8. I will be coming back to 6th Form to study Maths, Further Maths and Economics in the hope of doing Engineering in the future. I am going away to the World Scout Jamboree with friends before I return to school in a couple of weeks."
Sophie Matthews has Dyslexia and Visual Stress but received seven Grade 9s at Cramlington Learning Village in Cramlington, Northumberland. Her haul of GCSE top grades included English. Sophie is staying at Cramlington Learning Village (CLV) to study A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science. She said: "I've always struggled with revising it because it took me so much longer than it seemed to take everyone else." Her proud Mum Lesley said: "She worked so unbelievably hard. It proves that if you put the work in you get results."
Akhunzada Rayyan secured 8s and 9s in all subjects, with the majority being graded at the top mark of 9, at Kenton School in Kenton, Newcastle. Akhunzada is planning to study maths, biology, chemistry and further maths at Sixth Form with hopes of becoming a doctor or pursuing a career in drug development in the future. He said: "I'm feeling absolutely over the moon. Words can't put into practice what I've done here. All those years on to one test paper, it feels amazing."
Mrinal Deepak Shetty was overjoyed to achieve 9 grade 9s and a grade 8 at Newcastle High School for Girls. The 16-year-old said: "During my exams I felt quite stressed and had high aspirations, but I wasn't expecting the results I got. Opening the envelope was probably the scariest part of the whole GCSE experience. I was completely shocked and so happy when I saw my results." Mrinal will now study Biology, Chemistry and Psychology at A Level in Sixth Form at NHSG as she pursues her ambition of becoming a doctor. She added: "I've always found medicine fascinating because it's constantly changing and there are so many different paths you can take while helping people."
Taofiq Aminu achieved six grade 9s at Kenton School in Kenton, Newcastle. He will now study maths, chemistry, biology and possibly further maths at Newcastle Sixth Form. Taofiq, who hopes to go on to study medicine and dentistry, said: "[I was feeling] a bit anxious about some subjects because I was aiming for six A*s and I was hoping for six A*s but after I got my results I was pretty happy because I did get six A*s."
Clarice Fung was delighted to discover she had achieved an impressive set of GCSE results including 9 grade 9s. The 16-year-old will now study Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics and Psychology at NHSG's Sixth Form. She said: "I felt my exams had gone quite well, but I tried to put them out of my mind over the summer. I was nervous this morning, but I'm really happy with how things turned out and can now think about my A Levels. I feel like I learn best in the subjects I will be studying at A-Level. I'm especially looking forward to Economics because it will help me to understand how the world works." Clarice is considering studying Mathematics or Business-related subjects at university.
Abena O, from Newcastle, achieved 11 GCSEs at grade 9 at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle. She will remain at the school to continue her studies in Sixth Form. Abena initially described herself as shy when she joined RGS in Year 7. She credits the supportive school community and dedicated teachers with helping her grow in confidence and find her voice. Alongside her academic success, she founded the RGS Knitting Club, completed her Duke of Edinburgh's Award, embraced school trips including a memorable visit to Iceland, and took full advantage of the school's academic support programme.
Lola C, from Northumberland, is celebrating receiving 11 x grade 9 GCSEs at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle. She will now study Biology, Chemistry and Maths in Sixth Form with ambitions of pursuing Medicine. Lola has been a dedicated member of the school's netball and hockey teams - and currently plays in goal on the RGS Hockey Second team. She credits sports as an important part of school life alongside her studies. She said: "Sport really helps; it is very social and gives me the chance to switch off and have fun." Off the pitch, Lola is an avid musician, playing both the flute and piccolo in the RGS Orchestra. Her musical highlight of life at RGS is performing in the RGS 500 Choir and Orchestra Concert at The Glasshouse, the International Centre for Music. Her involvement in RGS Med Society has further inspired Lola's growing interest in science.
Sean B, from North Tyneside, secured 9 x 9 grade GCSEs at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle. He will now study Ancient Greek, Computing, English and Physics at the school's Sixth Form. Outside of the classroom, he has been a regular member of the RGS Dungeons & Dragons club, where he has enjoyed connecting with like-minded peers. He said: "I chose A-Level subjects that I enjoy, and that keep my options open. I like being challenged, and Ancient Greek has definitely been one of my favourite subjects."
