Announcement

13 August 2026

Dear Families

A huge congratulations to all of our young people, both here and at our partner school at Dunraven, who have received their A Level and BTEC results today. 

As ever, we would like to say a big  thank you to the families for all of your support over the last seven, or in some cases, two years.  Only families will know how tough or easy the last two years have been but hopefully they will see the results of it today. This is always a great day for teachers. Teachers know what a complete privilege it is to do the job we do; the gift of learning and knowledge is just that, a gift. At A Level, the knowledge of each child’s progress is so much more personal. So thank you to the teachers who have worked so hard.

All public examination points represent three things. They are a moment for students to be proud of what they have achieved. To have worked really hard over a long period of time and to see the fruits of that labour is one of the first vital life lessons that our young people will have. They are a moment to celebrate knowledge and the acquisition and application of it. Probably most importantly though, they are a stepping stone for the next stage of a young person’s life. The next opportunity for learning, or working and a whole new set of adventures.

Overall we are really pleased with our results with our best set of outcomes since the Covid years. We are particularly pleased with the increase in our A* to B grades and another fantastic set of outcomes from our BTEC qualifications. Hopefully this strong set of results will enable our young people to go on to the next phase of their life with real confidence. 

 Our success stories include: Ethan achieved A*A*A*A and will be studying Civil Engineering  at Imperial.  Dylan achieved A*A*A* and he will be studying Computer Science at Warwick. Alfonso also achieved A*A*A* and will be studying Theoretical Physics. Samuel achieved A*A*A and will be studying Mathematics at Nottingham. Delina achieved A*AA and will be studying Pharmacy  at Nottingham. Oskar achieved AAA and will be studying Economics and Politics at Manchester. Kelicia achieved A*AA and will be studying Modern Languages and Linguistics at Leeds. Alexandra achieved AAAB and will be studying Medicine at Cardiff. Inayah achieved AAA and will be studying Psychology at Kings.  Frida achieved AAB and will be studying Politics with International Studies with Chinese at Leeds. Ahmed also achieved AAB and will be studying Computer Science at Warwick. 

We also, as we always seem to do, achieved some fabulous BTEC results. It was heartening to see the new Prime Minister recently talking about the importance of excellent vocational education. Let’s hope it is more than just talk. It is something that is genuinely important to us at The Elmgreen School and we are very proud of our students who achieved the following results: Khadija achieved D*D*D* (Distinction * is the highest possible grade) and will be studying Accounting and Business Analytics at Greenwich. 

Julianna achieved D*D*D and a B and will be studying Law at Nottingham.  Bella achieved DDD*D* and will be studying Computer Science at Brunel. Riyaan achieved DDD and will be studying Law at Nottingham. Wynston achieved DDD and will be studying Sports Performance Analysis at Cardiff Metropolitan. 

What is really interesting about our BTEC qualifications this year are how many of those students are going on to the Russell Group universities. Those courses, often with industry placements, are now recognising the quality of the young people coming through the vocational route. 

I always like to highlight the work of the Head Boy and Girl. Elizabeth, who has been excellent in the role, is off to study Law at Kent. I am sure her confidence as a public speaker will take her far in her chosen course. She has been a great Head Girl.  

It’s traditional to highlight a student who has triumphed against the odds and you must allow me a little indulgence when rhapsodising about Ben, who was also our Head Boy. Ben joined us in Year 7, and he wouldn't mind us sharing that he has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and hadn’t always found education easy. Ben started just before the first lock down and because his family did an essential job he was one of the very small number of students who were ever present during that first school closure. Maybe that is where the bond with Elmgreen really developed because Ben has been one of our shining stars for the last 7 years. He has volunteered for everything that it is possible to volunteer for. He has helped at every school show, production and every open evening. He has spoken to Lambeth Council about the experience of SEND students in the mainstream system. He runs clubs, has achieved Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and last year was our Head Boy. At GCSE he achieved a solid set of grades but he has blown them out of the water at A level achieving AA at A Level and D* in his BTEC. He will be starting a degree level apprenticeship in September in the Civil Service. An extraordinary achievement from one of our most notable students in the twenty year history of the school.  There must have been some dust from the building work in the air this morning because when staff saw Ben’s mum’s reaction to his results, everybody, myself included, seemed to have something in their eyes that needed wiping away. 

I know this was mentioned in my last letter of the summer term but these excellent BTEC results are, in part,  a further testament to Ms Parchment and her teaching of the BTEC Health and Social Care qualification. She retired at the end of the summer term but what a legacy she has left at the school in terms of post 16 teaching. We really do wish her the very best. 

It’s always difficult to find something original to say on results day and it is fair to say that this letter has not significantly changed over the years. . I think back to my own modest results at A level and reflect on how much in awe I am of our students.  I’m certainly not of the ‘grades don’t matter’, Jeremy-Clarkson-school-of-thought because good grades can be transformational for young people, particularly if you are from a disadvantaged background. I also know that my grades got me into my chosen university and that I haven’t done too badly since.  However, I very much believe that these grades are part, rather than the end, of the process.   And so the best of luck to all our young people as they now prepare for a whole new experience of higher education or the workplace.  We wish them all the very best in the future and hope they always  remember us fondly at The Elmgreen School. 

Yours sincerely 

Dominic Bergin