Dane Court Grammar School is delighted to celebrate another year of outstanding GCSE results, with the school once again achieving an Attainment 8 score above 65 and nearly half of all entries awarded grades 7 or higher.
Year 11 students have excelled across the curriculum, with particularly strong performances in English, Maths and Science. An impressive 94% of students secured a strong pass (grade 5 or above) in both English and Maths, while the average grade in English Literature exceeded 7. This year also saw a record number of students taking Triple Science, achieving average grades above 6.5 across Chemistry, Biology and Physics. In the humanities and practical subjects, results were equally impressive, with 63% of students in both History and Food & Nutrition achieving grade 7 or higher.
Headteacher Martin Jones commented: “These results reflect not only the remarkable effort and resilience shown by our students, but also the commitment and expertise of our teaching and support staff. We are immensely proud of what our students have achieved and are confident they are exceptionally well-prepared for the next stage of their education. We look forward to welcoming them back in September as they begin their IB studies and continue to flourish.”
There were many individual success stories – some of the highlights include:
Gabriella McGettigan was awarded ten grade 9s and will study higher level Maths, Economics and Geography.
Lakshya Agrawal achieved nine grade 9s and one grade 8, and will study Maths, Economics and Physics in the sixth form.
Aleanbh Roberson was awarded eight grade 9s, two grade 7s and a 6, and will study Maths, Chemistry and Biology next year.
Betty Tighe seven grade 9s, three grade 8s and a grade 7, and will study higher level Chemistry, Biology and Maths.
Ehsan Fahim achieved six level 9s, one grade 8 and three grade 7s, and will study Chemistry, Biology and Maths in sixth form.
Christopher Dick was awarded five grade 9s, four grade 8s and two grade 7s and will study higher level Maths, Chemistry and Psychology.
Angel Shah achieved five grade 9s and six grade 8s, and will study higher level Global Politics, Philosophy and Maths.
Haniell Ong achieved four grade 9s, six grade 8s and a grade 7, and will study higher level Chemistry, Biology and Maths.
Rebecca Yau was awarded four grade 9s, six grade 8s and one 6, and will study higher level Chemistry, Economics and Maths.
Florence Stephens achieved four grade 9s, three grade 8s and three grade 7s, and will study higher level English Literature, Philosophy and History.
Olivia Abernathy achieved four grade 9s, four grade 8s, one grade 7 and a grade 6, and will study higher level Biology, Chemistry and Geography.
Hartsdown Academy
We have had an excellent year at Hartsdown Academy and our Year 11 students are celebrating another set of great results. Our year 11 students have demonstrated commitment, resilience and skill in the last two years, in which they built upon the knowledge they developed during the MYP programme in Key Stage 3. These outcomes reinforce the consistent and positive results for Hartsdown in recent years.
It is anticipated that record numbers of students will return to Hartsdown to study the globally recognised International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme. Others will go onto high quality college courses and apprenticeships both locally and further afield.
Headteacher Ian Wallace said:
“Hartsdown Academy is a school that provides an ‘Education for an amazing life’. We are delighted to see this culture being lived out by our students and our year 11s can be very proud of themselves. I am immensely proud of the results our students have achieved and of the staff and families that have supported them to do so. Our students have approached the exam season and ongoing coursework with confidence, composure, perseverance and effort in equal measure. They have demonstrated excellence with their approach to learning and have worked incredibly hard to ensure that they have the keys to achieve their ambitions in terms of their next steps. Our students are hardworking, skillful and compassionate young people, we are proud to send them out into the world and our local and national community. Our Year 11 students have epitomised the values we seek to develop and we wish them the very best of luck in their next steps.
I would like to thank the incredibly hardworking and dedicated staff body that supported these students in achieving their results and in becoming positive members of the community. Hartsdown and the Coastal Academies Trust are here to serve our community and our staff enable this vision to be achieved through their efforts. I would also like to thank our families for the support they have given their children and the school. My final thoughts though are with our students, we are proud of them and we are delighted that they have been rewarded for their efforts this year, our students matter and will now go onto to contribute to society in a positive way”
There were a number of outstanding individual performances within the year group. Muhammed Yilmaz achieved 9s in Combined Science, English Language, Maths, Statistics and five grade 8s across all other subjects including Further Maths. Muhammed said “I am so pleased that the hard work has paid off! I would like to thank my teachers for supporting me through my studies and I am proud to have given something back to a school that has believed in me since the day I joined. This is the first step on my journey to become a heart surgeon.” Meanwhile, Edwin Adebanjo gained 9s in Combined Science, 8’s in English Language, Maths and Further Maths. Edwin said “I am really happy with my results and very excited to continue working with the teachers and colleagues here at Hartsdown. We push each other to be better and enjoy the healthy competition to achieve top grades.”
Further successful achievements came from Varshini Ganesh, Ella Porter, Praise Rupande, Zak Bowers, Jonah Dahlin-Jones, Katrina Kalnina, Emmanuel Lamidi, Cameron Berry, Bayley Simpson, Tempe Simmons, Tyler Lees, Lola Smith, Leo Baker and Ellie Joy-Knowles who also all received a range of 8’s, 7’s and 6’s across all subjects.
Ben Smith, Deputy Headteacher commented on the outcomes and said, “Our talented pupils and dedicated staff should feel immensely proud of these results. We are delighted with the increased number of top level grades, but also super individual performances and targets met where pupils had given their all, shown incredible resilience and their hard work has paid off.” If you would like to join our fantastic Sixth Form in September 2025, please contact Mrs Pollard via email pollards@hartsdown.org or on 01843 227957. You can also visit our website for course information – www.hartsdown.org
King Ethelbert School
A huge congratulations to all of our Y11 students for today’s GCSE results. As a year group, it was clear that they approached these exams with a positive and proactive attitude. They deserve the excellent results they have achieved and everyone at the school is proud of them.
Notable successes include:
Nada – 1 x grade 9, 2 x grade 8s, 4 x grade 7s
Finley – 1 x grade 8, 4 x grade 7, 2 grade 6
Gracie – 1 x grade 9, 1 x grade 8 and 5 x grade 7s
Emily – 2 x grade 8 and 3 x grade 7
Jack – 1 x distinction*, 2 x grade 7s and 4 x grade 6
Royal Harbour Academy
The Royal Harbour Academy is delighted with the achievements of its students in this year’s GCSE examinations, marking another year of ongoing success for the school. 53% of students achieved a Grade 4 or higher in English, while 39% secured a Grade 4 or above in mathematics.
The school celebrated many individual successes and some outstanding performances, including:
Tyler who achieved 9 GCSEs including grade 9s for computing and maths, grade 8s for science, a level 2 distinction for hospitality and catering and a grade 7 for English language. Tyler said: ‘Thank you to all of my teachers who helped me along the way. I worked hard and it’s great that it all paid off. I am feeling incredibly proud of myself.’
Gabriela who achieved 10 GCSEs including grade 9 for Polish, a grade 8 in computing, a level 2 distinction in engineering and a grade 7 in English language.
Christeena who achieved 9 GCSEs including grade 7s in science, maths and design technology and a level 2 distinction in health and social care.
Summer who achieved 9 GCSEs including grade 7s in English language and history and a level 2 distinction in child development.
Safiyyah who achieved 9 GCSEs including a grade 9 for English language, grade 8s in English literature and design technology and grade 7s in religious studies and science.
Safiyyah said: ‘I am really pleased. I had to do a lot of studying in hospital emergency rooms because of my medical condition, but I did it because I believe that poor health should not be a barrier to education.’
Jenny Luxmoore, Deputy Headteacher, commented: “It’s fantastic to see our students rewarded with the success they deserve. They should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished and the personal challenges so many of them have overcome.”
Simon Pullen, Headteacher, added: “This year’s results mark another positive chapter in the ongoing success of The Royal Harbour Academy. I would like to say well done to both our students and staff for their determination and commitment throughout the academic year.
DANE COURT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Sixth Form students at Dane Court Grammar School are celebrating the results of their International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.
The average score on the IB Diploma was an impressive 34.4 points, which exceeds the global average and is equivalent to 192 UCAS points (A*A*A at A Level). 45% of students achieved a score of 35 points or above.
An impressive 29% of students achieved 38 points, equivalent to a standard offer at Oxford University.
And 18% of students attained 40 points and above, the equivalent of 3A* at A Level, placing them in the highest echelons of UK academic achievement.
The IB curriculum pathways at Dane Court have proven to be an excellent springboard for prestigious university destinations. Five students have confirmed places at Oxford and Cambridge, and DP, CP and Bespoke students are moving on to a wide range of courses, from medicine and biochemistry to history and law, many at leading Russell Group providers.
Notable successes:
Gregor Hutchison’s exceptional score of 44 points has won him a place to study Computer Science at the University of Oxford
Milo Ainsworth has achieved 43 points and has exceeded their offer to study Medicine at the University of Oxford
Edward Dunne has also attained 43 points and will study Computer Science at the University of Cambridge, our second Oxbridge Computer Scientist this year!
Amelia Parris’ score of 43 points has won her a place to study Biochemistry at the University of Bath
Lola Crossley has scored 42 points and will study Medicine at Exeter
Connie Chesters has also achieved 42 points and has secured a prestigious choral scholarship to study Music at the University of Oxford
Neeraj Rajeev achieved 42 points and will study Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London
Head Student, Louis Eldred, has attained 41 points and will study Chemistry at the University of Oxford
The school’s IB Careers-Related Programme students are celebrating results with 92% of the cohort achieving D*/D in the vocational subjects released so far. 48% of the IBCP cohort have also been awarded an A or B grade in their Reflective Project – a core component that requires the study of an ethical dilemma in their vocational subject, developing students’ commercial awareness and critical thinking.
The strength and breadth of the IB pathways has enabled high achieving students to choose between degree courses at Russell Group universities and paid, degree-level apprenticeship programmes.
Will Hume achieved a starred Distinction in BTEC Sport within his CP programme and has won a place to study International Security Studies at the University of Manchester.
CP students are celebrating a wide range of university offers from Sports Management at Bath, to Law at Greenwich. Other students are in line for impressive apprenticeship and employment opportunities in areas such as engineering, healthcare and software design.
Headteacher, Martin Jones, said: “We are incredibly proud of all our Year 13 students. These excellent results are a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to their studies. This impressive level of success opens the door to exciting opportunities as they move on to the next stage of their education or careers.
“We are thrilled that so many have already secured places at university or on prestigious apprenticeships, setting them up for a bright and promising future.
“I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our fantastic teachers, the Sixth Form Office, and all the support staff at Dane Court, whose hard work has helped make these achievements possible.”
Hartsdown Academy Sixth Form students are celebrating another year of achievement in their Vocational qualifications—capping off the final stage of their International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) journey and continuing the momentum from their record GCSE results in 2023.
The IBCP is a world-class qualification offered by several independent schools in Kent, including Kent College Canterbury and St Edmund’s School, Canterbury. The IBCP provides a rigorous and personalised curriculum combining vocational study with two IB Diploma subjects and a core programme focused on developing language skills, personal and professional abilities, community engagement, and ethical reflection. The programme equips students with the qualifications and skills needed to access leading Russell Group universities, degree-level apprenticeships, and exciting career opportunities.
Today’s vocational results follow the release of IB Diploma subject results in July, completing the full IBCP qualification for the 2025 cohort.
Headteacher Mr Wallace said: “These results are a reflection of our students’ scholarship, resilience, and commitment to a vision of excellence. Throughout their Sixth Form journey, they have demonstrated not only academic strength but also teamwork, resilience, and integrity—hallmarks of the Hartsdown ethos.
“The IBCP equips our students with the qualifications, character, and confidence to succeed in a rapidly changing world, and we are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved. We also want to extend our congratulations to students across the Coastal Academies Trust who are collecting their IBCP results today. It’s a privilege to be part of a trust that shares our commitment to excellence, opportunity, and student success.
“Some 55% of the cohort achieved the top grades of Distinction or above with 15% of these coming from the Extended Diploma. Combined with the IB Diploma results, 78% of the cohort achieved more than 112 UCAS points. 65% of students have accepted offers to universities and one student has already secured an ambitious degree level apprenticeship. These students have achieved superb results and we are extremely proud of what they have achieved.”
Particular successes include Viktorija Leuta, who secured 140 UCAS points and is off to Canterbury Christ Church University to study Mechanical Engineering.
Glorija Dordijevski achieved 220 UCAS points and will be reading Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent.
Kai Parham achieved 172 UCAS points and will be studying Business and Management at Bath Spa University.
Ashna Rajesh who achieved 154 UCAS points and will be studying Forensic Science at Liverpool St John’s University in 2026 after taking a gap year.
George Tate will be studying a Sports Coaching Apprenticeship with the University of Northampton, with his placement being with at Hartsdown Academy.
Head of Sixth Form, Stacie Pollard said@ “I am truly inspired by the determination and growth I have seen in our Year 13 students. They have embraced every challenge with resilience and a commitment to excellence, developing into confident and thoughtful young adults. It’s been a privilege to watch them prepare for their next steps, and I wish each of them a future filled with success and happiness.”
Sixth Form details September 2025Mrs Pollard via email pollards@hartsdown.org or on 01843 227957
KING ETHELBERT SCHOOL
King Ethelbert School is celebrating another year of fantastic Year 13 results.
Headteacher Tom Sellen said “We are thrilled with the fantastic IB and BTEC results from our Y13 students. Once again we have seen how the IBCP programme supports our young people in really finding their passions and developing their wider skills alongside rigorous, academic studies. 92% of the cohort passed the course with 30% of grades being 5 or above and 75% grade 4 or above. In terms of BTEC achievements, 18 students achieved top grades of D*D*D-DD, with 13 students tackling the extended diploma – a qualification the equivalent of 3 A-levels. The students have achieved some superb results and they are off to a wide range of exciting and challenging next steps. They are a terrific bunch of young people who have shown immense character.”
All students in the sixth form study the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme which is a rigorous level 3 qualification, where students study one Level 3 BTEC course and 2 IB Diploma Programme courses, graded on a 7-1 scale. Many of our students achieve a BTEC National Diploma (equivalent to 2 A levels), however some certificate in the BTEC Extended Diploma (3 A level equivalent) and two standard level IB Diploma courses (equivalent to 0.5 A level each). The students are also required to pass the IBCP core which comprises of; a personal and professional skills course, a 50-hour community focussed service learning project, the reflective project which is a 3000 word essay where the students explore an ethical dilemma and on top of this the students are immersed in an international culture as part of their compulsory language acquisition. We receive the BTEC results in August, which will only bolster the fantastic grades the students have already achieved.
Rebecca Darch, IBCP Coordinator and Head of Sixth Form said, “We are incredibly proud of each of our students and how they have achieved the requirements to progress onto their chosen next steps. 48% of the cohort have chosen to accept their place at university, with the remainder choosing to continue with their employment or have planned to embrace travel as part of a gap year before applying for university or degree apprenticeships”
There are some superb individual performances also: Macey Nicholson achieved a grade 6 in History, 5 in HL English, A in Reflective Project, combined with her D*DD in Business, Macey has achieved 208 UCAS points. Macey is leaving us to study Law and Criminology at the University of Kent. Rhianna Cowell has achieved a grade 5 in HL English, grade 5 in Global Politics and an A in Reflective Project, combined with her predicted D*DD in Business, she has achieved 200 UCAS points, Rhianna is going to study Primary Education (QTS) at CCCU. Halle Harrington achieved a grade 4 in Psychology, 4 in Social and Cultural Anthropology, combined with her D*D*D in Sport, she has achieved 184 UCAS points and is going to study Sport, Health and Exercise Science and the University of Portsmouth.
The Royal Harbour Academy in Ramsgate is celebrating the achievements of its Sixth Form students in the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP).
Their dedication and commitment has paid off, culminating in a year of significant academic success and personal growth.
Students studied a rigorous curriculum, to complete Level 3 BTECs alongside challenging IB Diploma Programme courses.
Beyond their demanding coursework and academic subjects, the IBCP students excelled in the programme’s core components. This included invaluable personal and professional skills development, community-focused service learning projects, and reflective essays that explored complex ethical dilemmas.
Students also embraced global citizenship through mandatory language acquisition, immersing themselves in an international culture, with a particular focus on Japanese culture and language.
Headteacher, Simon Pullen, said: “I am incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished.
“Their hard work and perseverance has been truly inspiring, and we’ve seen some excellent individual performances that highlight their diverse talents and strong commitment to learning.”
Notable individual performances:
Charlie achieved a grade 7 in IB History, a grade 5 in IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretations. He has accepted to attend University of Leicester to read Accounting. Charlie also received the annual prize for being the Highest Achieving student at The Royal Harbour Academy. Charlie said, ”I want to say a massive thanks to my History teachers for supporting me and believing in me.”
Margo received a grade 5 in higher level IB English Literature and Language, a grade 5 in IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretations and a B grade in her Reflective Project. Margo wants to continue her studies at the University of Kent to study Data Science. Margo said “Thank you for all the support from my teachers and for helping me get the results I’m proud of. I’ve really enjoyed these past two years.”
Head Student, Jessica received a grade 4 IB Biology and a grade 4 in IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretations and a C grade in her Reflective Project. Jessica said “I would like to say a big thank you to all my teachers, the pastoral staff and everyone in the sixth form.”
Head of Sixth Form Josh Stoner said “We couldn’t be prouder of our students’ incredible performance in the IB programme. Their hard work and the unwavering support from our dedicated teachers truly shine through in these fantastic results.
“Beyond just academic excellence, our students have honed invaluable skills in critical thinking, effective communication, and a global perspective through their IB studies. These are the foundations that will launch them into successful future education and careers.”
For more information about the RHA 6th Form email sixthform@rha.kent.sch.uk, or call the school on 01843 572500.
Easter Extravaganza
Photography credited to @MollieProctorPhotography
On Thursday 27th March the six Thanet schools which make up Coastal Academies Trust, gathered at the Granville Theatre in Ramsgate for the highly anticipated Easter Extravaganza musical concert. The Coastal Academies Trust event showcased the immense talent of students from Newington and Cliftonville Primary schools alongside Dane Court Grammar School, Hartsdown Academy, Royal Harbour Academy and King Ethelbert School.
Each school had a fantastic choir and performed in front of a packed audience before the schools performed together, ending with the students from all 6 schools singing as a group. The concern offered a diverse and ambitious programme that thrilled the audience. Each school was superb, but perhaps the stand out moment was the stunning collaboration between the students and a live band adding an extra layer of excitement to the show.
With nearly 150 students taking part, the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the students was contagious, leaving parents, teachers and friends deeply moved by the dedication and skill of our wonderful Thanet youngsters.
CEO of Coastal Academies Trust, Kate Greig, said “This is what being part of a trust is all about – celebrating all our schools and the talented youngsters we have in Thanet. Seeing our older students perform with the younger ones was absolutely brilliant and the event was a testament to the power of collaboration, uniting schools and communities through the joy of performance. The students performed magnificently and the music staff at all our schools pulled it all together for a memorable evening of music and performance. Schools working together, sharing resources, ideas and creativity to give all our young people the best opportunities we can is what makes us proud to be in a Trust.”
GCSE Success
Celebrating IBDP / IBCP Results Across the CAT
Student Social Mobility Awards
Congratulations to Hartsdown Academy for being chosen as school of the year at the Student Social Mobility Awards held at Mansion House, London. This was in recognition of a school making outstanding achievements to boost career aspirations of students from lower socio economic backgrounds.
Winter Warmers
Over four different mornings in early December all of the Year 3 children from Cliftonville Primary School visited King Ethelbert School and the students from Year 5 visited Hartsdown Academy and used their food technology departments to create soup and pizza respectively. They had designed recipes as part of their DT unit on food and nutrition. The children were taken through the cooking process step by step. All the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt lots of great safety tips for being in the kitchen. They all enjoyed the soup and pizza that they made and many shared it with their parents when they went home at the end of the day.
“Just a quick email to say a massive thank you for having us! All the children had a fantastic time and really enjoyed making their soups. Hoping we can do the same again next year! Thanks again.” Mr Kirby Year 3 Teacher
Faraday Challenge
On Wednesday 3rd May, King Ethelbert School hosted a “Faraday Challenge” for twelve of our Year 8 students, who were accompanied by twelve students from Royal Harbour Academy and another twelve from Hartsdown Academy.
This is a national competition run by the Institute for Engineering, where students are challenged to design a prototype of a product as a solution to a current real life problem.
All students had a great day and learnt a lot from Phil Hart, the engineer tasked with running the day.
It was great to get schools from within the Coastal Academies Trust together for a day full of learning about how to make the world a better place.
They battled it out to see who could make the best design and …….
A huge well done to the final winners who were group 3 from Royal Harbour Academy!
