South Bank University Academy is celebrating its Year 11 students today as the Class of 2026 receive their GCSE results and take their next steps towards sixth form, further education and their future careers.
Results Day marks a significant milestone for young people after five years of secondary education. Today, students returned to SBUA to collect their results, celebrate with friends and teachers, and begin looking ahead to what comes next.
Across the Academy, students have been celebrating their individual achievements, with strong results in English and Mathematics and a wide range of exciting post-16 destinations secured.
Celebrating GCSE achievement
Among this year's results highlights:
- Students achieved Grade 5 or above in both GCSE English and GCSE Maths, exceeding expected outcomes.
- Students achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE English, with students achieving more than one grade above their expected outcomes on average.
- Students achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths, with students exceeding their targets by almost a full grade on average.
The Academy is proud to celebrate the individual successes behind these figures, recognising that every student's journey through secondary education is different.
For many students, today's results reflect years of hard work, perseverance and determination. For others, they represent significant personal progress and the achievement of goals they have worked towards throughout their time at SBUA.
Every student has a story
While today's results provide an important snapshot of achievement, Results Day is ultimately about celebrating the young people behind the grades.
Students across the year group have been sharing their results, reflecting on their time at SBUA and looking forward to their next steps.
Santiago is celebrating an impressive set of GCSE results, achieving two Grade 8s in English Language and History, three Grade 7s in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, three Grade 6s in English Literature, Biology and Sociology, and a Grade 5 in Spanish.
After feeling nervous throughout the morning as he waited to receive his results, Santiago was delighted when he finally opened them.
“I was very nervous this morning about getting my results, but now that I've got them, I'm very happy with them.”
Santiago will now continue his studies at Haberdashers' Borough Academy Sixth Form, taking the next step towards his future ambitions.
Joanne is also celebrating a strong set of results, including an outstanding Grade 9 in Mathematics, Grade 8s in Chemistry and Physics, Grade 7s in Biology and English Language, a Grade 6 in English Literature, a Grade 5 in Drama and a Grade 4 in Art.
Joanne said she is “happy and proud” of her results and is looking forward to continuing her education at South Bank University Academy Sixth Form.
For Joanne, Results Day marks not only the celebration of her GCSE achievements, but also the beginning of the next stage of her journey within the SBUA community.
These stories represent just some of the many individual achievements being celebrated across the Class of 2026.
A cohort demonstrating resilience
The Class of 2026 is a diverse cohort, with students bringing a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, strengths and aspirations to the Academy.
The year group includes a higher proportion of students with special educational needs and disabilities than both the school and national averages. Attendance was also a significant challenge for the cohort during their secondary education, despite targeted interventions and support from the Academy and external partners.
Against this backdrop, the achievements of students today are a reflection not only of their academic attainment, but also of their resilience, determination and the support they have received throughout their secondary education.
Teachers and support staff have worked closely with students and families to help them overcome barriers, develop confidence and remain focused on their future goals.
Today provides an opportunity to recognise that work and, most importantly, to celebrate the students themselves.
Continuing the journey at SBUA
For many members of the Class of 2026, today's GCSE results are not the end of their SBUA journey, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
A significant number of students will be returning to South Bank University Academy Sixth Form, continuing their education within the SBUA community and building on the foundations they have developed during their secondary education.
The Academy is also welcoming a new group of external Year 11 students today who are joining SBUA for sixth form enrolment, making Results Day a particularly exciting occasion across the school as one cohort prepares to move forward while another begins its journey.
For students progressing elsewhere, the next chapter will take them to a range of destinations, including South Bank Colleges, part of the LSBU Group, alongside other sixth forms, colleges and post-16 pathways.
Whatever destination they have chosen, each student is taking the next step towards their individual ambitions and future careers.