The start of the new school year has brought a great amount of reflection and pride across Pele Trust as schools celebrate the achievements of their students from last school year. From Early Years through to A-Level, the hard work and resilience of students has been evident in their excellent results. 

GCSE 

At The Duchess’s Community High School, students have continued to raise the bar year on year. More young people than ever before secured strong outcomes in GCSE English and Maths, while a record number of the very highest grades were awarded across a wide range of subjects. 

In 2025, over 5% of all grades were awarded at grade 9, the school’s best ever figure, with 12% at grade 9–8 and 20% of all grades at grade 9–7. The school is certainly beginning to see the benefits of being part of the Trust, with collaboration and shared improvement planning already having a positive impact.

Ponteland High School is also celebrating some of its strongest results to date. A third of all grades were in the 7-9 range, with more than 150 grade 9s awarded across the curriculum. These results reflect not just academic ability but also the resilience and dedication of students, supported by committed staff who provided guidance and opportunities every step of the way.

A-Level

Successful A-level results at The Duchess’s Community High School has opened many doors for students’ further education. 6% of all grades were awarded at the very highest A* level (or equivalent), with almost a quarter of grades achieving A* or A. 

A-level outcomes at Ponteland High School were equally inspiring, with nearly half of all grades awarded in the top A-B bracket, and a significant number of students now progressing to leading universities across the country.

Celebrating success at Pele Trust 

These success stories represent just a small snippet of the wider successes taking place across Pele Trust, with every school having inspiring examples of progress and success to be proud of! 

Across Pele Trust, our students, teachers and leaders have worked together to achieve the best possible outcomes. While the data tells part of the story, what truly stands out is the culture of ambition and support that underpins these successes. We look forward to continuing to work together with our schools to aim for more success this year!