Students at Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick are celebrating today after receiving their long-awaited GCSE results, marking a key milestone in their educational journey. These results open doors to exciting next steps—whether that’s A Levels, vocational studies at sixth form or college, or starting an apprenticeship.
Families, staff and the wider community have come together to recognise and applaud the hard work, dedication, and resilience shown by this year’s cohort.
This year, 60% of students achieved a Grade 4 or above in both Maths and English – the government’s benchmark for a pass – while 10% earned top grades of 9 to 7, showcasing exceptional achievement. 97% of students achieved five GCSE passes, with 77% of students achieving a pass in English and 63% in Maths.
Thomas Daly, Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy, said: “Congratulations to all our students on their achievements today. These results represent more than just grades – they reflect years of dedication, growth, and resilience throughout their time at the Academy.
“At Shireland, we value academic excellence, but we also celebrate the ambition and character our students develop along the way. As they take their next steps, I am confident they will continue striving for success and making a positive impact in their chosen paths. A special thanks also goes out to our staff, whose belief in our students and commitment to their progress is at the heart of everything we do.”
Performances were particularly strong in Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, and Sport, where over 25% of students achieved a Grade 7 – 9; demonstrating the strengths and diverse talents of students.
Sir Mark Grundy, CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, commented: “On behalf of everyone at the Trust, congratulations to all our year 11 students at Shireland Collegiate Academy on their achievements. Their results are a credit to their focus, determination, and the high standards they’ve set for themselves.
“We are incredibly proud of all they’ve accomplished, and we’re confident they’ll carry that same drive into their next steps.”
Shireland Collegiate Academy will be hosting an Open Evening on Tuesday 16 September, from 4.00pm for families wanting to learn more about joining in year 7 in September 2026. No need to book, just turn up.
GCSE qualifications are marked under a 9-1 grading system, with 9 being the highest grade. GCSEs are linear in structure rather than modular, with all exams taken at the end of a two-year course. BTEC qualifications are marked under a vocational grading system, distinction*-pass. This is broken down into two tiers of entry, level 1 or level 2, each with equivalence to GCSE grading. A level 2 distinction* is the highest grade achievable.
