Students from the United Arab Emirates are celebrating their GCSE and International GCSE results following an academic year that was unlike any previous one. Schools have reported strong performance despite disruptions caused by regional tensions.
In many schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, students achieved a high percentage of top grades. Some institutions noted particularly impressive results in the 9-7 and 9-4 bands.
At Jebel Ali School, 122 out of 1021 exams were completed. The school reported that 21% of all grades were Grade 9, 38% were Grades 9-8, and 59% were Grades 9-7; moreover, 97% of all submissions were graded in the 9-4 range. The overall pass rate at the school reached 97%, and 98% of students received five or more grades in the 9-4 range, including English and Mathematics. The best individual result was 10 Grade 9s, and there was a 100% pass rate in BTEC Applied Science.
For some students, achieving these grades became possible after several months of uncertainty following the cancellation of the summer examination series in the region and the use of alternative assessment methods.
Simon Juddrell, Director of Jebel Ali School, stated that the Year 11 graduating cohort demonstrated the strongest GCSE results in the school's history. He emphasized that these achievements reflect the hard work, resilience, and pursuit of academic excellence by the students, supported by teachers and families.
Dubai British School Jumeirah Park also reported a 100% pass rate across all 31 GCSE subjects, with 81% of grades falling in the 9-6 band. The school noted that several students achieved a perfect score of nines across all subjects.
These results were obtained after implementing an alternative assessment process because the summer examination series was cancelled. Students underwent certification over several weeks, coping with the difficulties and uncertainty caused by the regional conflict.
Rebecca Coulter, Director of Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, commented that these results speak to more than just academic performance. She stated that these results tell the story of a remarkable group of young people who showed resilience, courage, and determination in circumstances they should not have had to endure as students.
Repton Abu Dhabi showed that 99% of grades were in the 9-4 range, 72% were in the 9-7 range, and 50% were in the 9-8 range. Among the top students, Alyaziah Alfalahi received eight Grade 9s, one Grade 8, and one Grade 7, while Farida Ahmed Fawzy achieved eight Grade 9s. John Hughes, Head of Sixth Form, noted that the results reflect the students' perseverance and the support of the teaching staff.
Repton Al Barsha recorded 96% of grades in the 9-4 range, 80% in the 9-6 range, and 63% in the 9-7 range, with 43% of grades in the 9-8 range.
Repton Dubai maintained a high level of academic achievement, showing 92% of grades in the 9-4 range, 70% in the 9-6 range, and 51% in the 9-7 range.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi also demonstrated a high percentage of top grades. Grade 9 was the most frequently awarded grade, accounting for 43% of all grades, while 60% were Grades 9-8, and 76% were Grades 9-7. Science was a strength: in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, an average of 72% of grades were awarded as Grade 9, and an average of 93% were in the 9-7 range. Barney Durant, Director of Brighton College Abu Dhabi, stated that the students demonstrated qualities beyond academic results, noting their resilience, maturity, and character, which is particularly impressive given the difficulties of the past year.
At Brighton College Al Ain, out of 305 available results so far, 102 were Grade 9, representing 33% of the total. The school reported a 100% pass rate, with 58% of results in the 9-8 range, 79.3% in the 9-7 range, and 97.7% in the 9-4 range.