Cundall celebrates exceptional GCSE results

Cundall Manor’s class of 2026 who have achieved very strong results in their GCSE exams. The overall percentage for pass grades has risen from 86% in 2025 to 93% in 2026 (compared to 67% nationally).

Bucking the national trend, Cundall pupils averaged nine good grades (9-4) each and they all passed Maths GCSE and Science, matching last year’s perfect record in English Language. 

Cundall’s top performer was separate scientist James who has been at the school since nursery and placed himself in the top 0.1% in the country by achieving an extraordinary ten Grade 9s (that also included Further Maths and Computing) and will now move on to Shrewsbury School on an Academic Scholarship. Others including Rainia, Mollie P and Elsie will head to selective Sixth Forms such as Ripon Grammar and St Peter’s with excellent grades (44% of Grades were 9-7).

Mollie and Ilana who both joined from local schools in Year 10, achieved 17 passes between them including a pair of Grade 9s in Art. Mollie is also in the England regional pathways hockey squad where she has trained alongside Head Girl Immy. Their classmate Ali has gone one better this year by captaining the England U16 hockey team and he will now move on to A Level study having also achieved eight Grade 8s and 9s.

Offering twenty-two different subjects at GCSE, the school determinedly supports a vast range of interest and ambition.  Head Boy Amos, a member of the National Youth Theatre, has been awarded two performing arts scholarships at Bootham; Ollie will continue his music education at York College with the confidence of already having an album streaming on Spotify; Max has won a rowing scholarship whilst Jack, Charlie B and Will are off to Askham Bryan to study for T Levels in Agriculture and Crop Science.

The Headmaster Simon Weale said:

‘The range of achievement amongst this relatively small cohort is astonishing. Our school is not highly selective, but every result is on average a grade better than national projections in terms of value added.  Each of our twenty three leavers has made their mark on the school and most importantly they are a kind, supportive and resilient group.  They have all had the space to be known as an individual, to grow and find themselves.  They have had the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and they have all found a champion on the staff to support them when needed. I am confident that the careful and bespoke support they have received at Cundall during their GCSE years will allow them to take on the world.”