Last Thursday (August 20), thousands of students opened envelopes that revealed how they did in their exams, which they took earlier this summer.
The London Borough of Sutton ranked third in England for the proportion of GCSE entries receiving the highest grades, according to figures published by Ofqual.
Some 43.0 per cent of GCSE entries in Sutton received a grade 7 or above this year, up from 41.9 per cent in 2025.
READ MORE: I watched Sutton fade into Croydon on my 1st Superloop – why it’s a game-changer
Only Cambridge and Richmond upon Thames recorded a higher proportion of top grades, with Cambridge topping the national table at 53.5 per cent and Richmond coming second with 43.4 per cent.
Sutton was the second-highest performing London borough, behind Richmond upon Thames, while Kingston upon Thames came fourth nationally with 42.5 per cent of GCSE entries receiving a grade 7 or above.
The strong results extended across the wider area, with Epsom & Ewell also featuring in the national top 10.
Some 37.8 per cent of GCSE entries in Epsom & Ewell received a grade 7 or above, placing it ninth nationally.
Wandsworth also featured among the higher-performing areas, with 33.4 per cent of entries receiving a grade 7 or above, while Merton recorded 31.8 per cent.
Further west, Richmond upon Thames recorded 43.4 per cent, making it the highest-performing London borough in the table.
Trafford in Greater Manchester was the only area outside southern England to feature in the top five, with 39.7 per cent of entries receiving a grade 7 or above.
Sutton Council said early data showed 73.3 per cent of students achieved at least five grades 9-4, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from 2025.
Meanwhile, 79.9 per cent achieved grade 4 or above in English and maths, while 82.8 per cent attained the English Baccalaureate.
On Results Day, Councillor Gemma Munday, Lead Member for Children and Young People at Sutton Council, said: “This excellent set of results is a clear reflection of the outstanding schools and dedicated teachers we have across our borough.
“Congratulations to all our students and schools who received their results today.
“Today is an opportunity to celebrate all of your hard work, and you should be very proud of what you have achieved as you take your next steps.”
Sutton Council joined Year 11 students and staff at The John Fisher School as they opened their results and celebrated their achievements.
Robert Teague, Headteacher at The John Fisher School, said: “At The John Fisher School, we are very proud of our pupils and all that they have achieved.
“These results reflect a great deal of hard work, perseverance and commitment, supported by the dedication of our staff and the encouragement of families.
“While examination results are only one part of a young person’s education, they open important doors, and it is particularly pleasing to see so many of our boys now able to take the next step with confidence.
“I congratulate every one of them and wish them every success for the future.”
Overton Grange School also celebrated an excellent set of GCSE results from its Year 11 students, with significant improvements across all key performance benchmarks.
Cambridge topped the national table, with 53.5 per cent of GCSE entries receiving a grade 7 or above, while Richmond upon Thames came second on 43.4 per cent.
At the other end of the table, Tamworth in Staffordshire recorded the lowest proportion, with 6.7 per cent of entries receiving a grade 7 or above.
The national figures were published as part of Ofqual’s 2026 qualification results data.
Courtesy of Your Local Guardian | Richmond News