Behind the results lie stories of ambition, overcoming adversity, scholarship, and a determination to balance academic performance with a rich array of co-curricular interests.
Headline results for 2026 are:
- 9s: 56%
- 9/8s: 81%
- 9-7s: 90%
Of the cohort of 102 pupils, 14% achieved straight 9s, 47% all 8/9s and 73% all 9-7s.
At least 10 GCSEs were taken by 87% of pupils. One pupil achieved 12 straight grade 9s, three pupils achieved 11 straight grade 9s, and eight pupils achieved 10 straight grade 9s.
The results demonstrate the school’s continuing strength in core subjects. In English Literature, 84% of pupils were awarded grades 8/9 and 94% 9-7, while in English Language the percentages were even higher – 91% 8/9 and 96% 9-7. In Maths, 82% of pupils achieved 8/9 and 91% 9-7. As with last week’s A Level results, today’s results highlight the school’s strength in ancient and modern languages. A strong performance in Latin saw more than half (57%) of candidates awarded a grade 9 and 93% 9/8. There was also notable success for some more recently introduced subjects: 81% of pupils taking Mandarin achieved a grade 9 and 100% 9/8; while in PE, 80% of pupils secured a grade 9 and 100% 9-7, an academic result made all the more pleasing at the end of a stellar year for sport, which included KEHS being named in the country’s top 30 sporting schools.
KEHS continues to earn national recognition for both academic achievement and the breadth of opportunities available beyond the classroom. Last month, the school was named the UK’s best value independent school by The Telegraph for the second consecutive year, in recognition of its outstanding academic outcomes, facilities and comparatively low fees, and it is consistently The Sunday Times’s top-performing school in the West Midlands. Meanwhile, the school’s most recent inspection report highlighted its co-curricular provision as a “significant strength”, reflecting the wide range of opportunities through which pupils develop their talents and confidence.
The school’s Edgbaston campus, shared with King Edward’s School (KES), shines as the outstanding centre of excellence in the West Midlands in providing unrivalled educational opportunity. Committed to accessibility for bright pupils regardless of socioeconomic background, the schools provide double the national average of bursary places.
Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé, Chief Master & Principal of King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) and King Edward’s School (KES) said: “We are incredibly proud of our Upper Fifth for a tremendous set of GCSE results. Behind every grade lies years of commitment and intellectual curiosity, as well as the outstanding expertise of our staff, and the invaluable support of parents. Our pupils have embraced challenge with enthusiasm, while also contributing fully to the rich cultural, creative, sporting and leadership opportunities that define the vibrant daily experience at KEHS.”
Last week, KEHS celebrated excellent A Level results, with 38% at A*, 73% at A*/A and 91% at A*-B.
