Brighton College Dubai Sets New GCSE Record with 48% Top Grades

Brighton College Dubai has announced its strongest set of GCSE results since the school opened, with pupils achieving record numbers of top grades in the 2026 examinations. A quarter of all grades were awarded at the highest level of Grade 9, while 48% of results fell in the top tier of Grades 9-8. These figures mark a clear year-on-year improvement and the highest total of Grade 9s in the College’s history.

The results continue a six-year run of strong performance. Grade 9 was once again the most frequently awarded grade at the school, a notable achievement given how rarely the top mark is given internationally. Overall, 67% of grades were at Grades 9-7, reflecting consistent progress across the cohort.

School leaders highlighted both the academic outcomes and the broader development of the year group. Pupils combined examination success with continued involvement in sport, music, performing arts, leadership roles and community service. The College presents this balance as central to its educational approach.

Several students stood out with particularly high individual results. Jyllian Guzman achieved eight Grade 9s and one Grade 7. She will remain at Brighton College Dubai to study English Language, English Literature, art and psychology. Keziah Hussain secured seven Grade 9s and three Grade 8s. Beyond the classroom she completed an internship at Mediclinic and spent time at a community school in South Africa during the previous summer. Aadit Saboo also gained seven Grade 9s, one Grade 8 and one Grade 7, including a Grade 9 in further mathematics, a subject that demands advanced analytical skill.

Other high achievers included Angus Strike with six Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and one Grade 7; Malaika Chaudhary, a founding pupil who joined in 2018, with six Grade 9s and three Grade 8s; Anastasia Ivashkova with six Grade 9s and two Grade 8s; and Rebecca Johnson with six Grade 9s, one Grade 8 and one Grade 7.

Simon Crane, Head Master of Brighton College Dubai, described the outcome as a collective success. “With one in four grades awarded at Grade 9, Brighton College Dubai is once again on cloud nine! Almost half of all grades were awarded at 9–8, while 67% were at 9–7, representing significant improvement on last year. These exceptional results are a wonderful reflection of the ambition and hard work of our pupils and the dedication of their teachers. There is a great deal to celebrate.”

Jane Clewlow, Vice Principal and Head of Senior School, emphasised the personal stories behind the statistics. “These are the best GCSE results in the College’s history, and we could not be prouder of this year group. Against a backdrop of uncertainty, our pupils have shown remarkable resilience and determination. Behind every grade is an individual story of progress and perseverance. Supported by exceptional teachers and families, they have consistently shown themselves to be kind, confident and curious young people, ready for the opportunities ahead. Well done, Year 11.”

The 2026 cohort’s performance reinforces Brighton College Dubai’s position among the leading British curriculum schools in the United Arab Emirates. The school, located in Al Barsha South, opened its purpose-built campus in 2018 and has since received consistent external recognition. It was named Best New School in the UAE by Schools Compared Top School Awards for several consecutive years, earned a “Very Good” rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), and achieved “Outstanding” in all areas of a recent British Schools Overseas inspection. Talk Education has described it as one of the most desirable schools in the city.

Brighton College Dubai is the sister school of Brighton College in the United Kingdom, which was named 'School of the Decade' in the Sunday Times Parent Power League Table 2020. The Dubai campus maintains close links with its UK counterpart while adapting the British curriculum to the local context and emphasising appreciation of UAE heritage and cultural diversity. The school is operated by Bloom Education, a subsidiary of Bloom Holding. Bloom Education also runs Brighton College campuses in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, both of which have recorded strong examination outcomes, as well as other international curriculum schools and nurseries across the Emirates.

GCSE results remain a key public measure of secondary school performance under the British system. Grades 9-8 correspond to the highest levels of achievement and are closely watched by universities and employers. The fact that nearly half of Brighton College Dubai’s grades reached this band, and that one in four reached the absolute top mark, places the school among the stronger performers in the region.

School statements stressed that the results reflect progress made by the full year group rather than a small elite. Teachers and families are credited with providing consistent support, while pupils are described as having approached challenges with maturity. The College’s stated aim is to help every student fulfil individual potential, a goal it says is visible both in examination data and in the wider co-curricular record of the cohort.

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Looking ahead, the successful Year 11 pupils will move into the Sixth Form at Brighton College Dubai or other pathways, carrying with them a strong set of qualifications and experience of balancing academic demands with other activities. For the school, the 2026 results provide further evidence that its combination of rigorous teaching, pastoral care and broader enrichment continues to deliver measurable academic success.

Brighton College Dubai’s 2026 GCSE outcomes therefore stand as both a record for the institution and a demonstration of sustained performance in a competitive educational market. With 25% of grades at Grade 9, 48% at Grades 9-8, and the highest total of top marks in the school’s history, the College has set a new internal benchmark while reinforcing its reputation for academic excellence within the UAE’s British curriculum sector.