Duchy College pupils celebrate outstanding exam results after year of hard work

Duchy College (formerly Harrogate Ladies’ College) is celebrating pupil excellence with an outstandingset of results.

On Friday 25 September, Duchy College will open its doors for a special Open Morning, welcoming prospective families to explore its Pre-School, Prep, Seniors and Sixth Form. Taking place during a normal teaching day, the event offers a genuine insight into the vibrant atmosphere of the school, with visitors able to see students engaging in lessons, discover more about the curriculum and learn about the projects and activities their children could take part in.

Families will have the opportunity to meet the Principal, Heads of Schools, teaching staff and pupils, as well as tour the school’s facilities across its 22-acre campus in the heart of Harrogate. Visitors can explore academic, extra-curricular and social spaces, observe lessons and activities in progress, and ask questions about joining Duchy College at any stage. The morning is designed to provide practical information for families considering the school for children aged from two through to Sixth Form.

There will also be specialist talks covering each stage of the curriculum from Pre-School to Sixth Form. Click here for more info.

GCSE success

Before then, the school celebrated a phenomenal set of GCSE results as pupils achieved the best 9-7 grade percentage since 2023 and outstanding STEM grades.

Half of all grades were at 9-7, the highest number in four years, while 80% of grades in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Further Maths were 9-7. Pupils studying languages also performed well, with 70% of grades at 9-7, including an outstanding 100% 9-7 percentage in German.

These results in STEM subjects highlight the school’s continued commitment to championing careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, with 53% of A Level pupils going on to study STEM courses, which is over double the national average of female applications in 2025.

In addition to outstanding results, over 70% of pupils outperformed their baseline predicted grades.

Earlier in August, A Level pupils celebrated the best A*-A grade percentage in four years, outstanding value-added progress and a 100% pass rate.

The school’s A*-B percentage has seen three consecutive years of improvement and two-thirds of pupils this year achieved at least one A* or A grade, the highest figure since 2023.

80% of grades in Maths and Further Maths were A*-A, while 53% of pupils will go on to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses, over double the national average of female applications for STEM subjects in 2025.

In addition to achieving a 100% pass rate, the school achieved its highest A Level value-added score in three years, a metric which measures academic progress compared to the pupils’ baseline starting point.

Joanna Fox, Principal of Duchy College, said: These outstanding results are testament to the work ethic, resilience and determination of our pupils. I am exceptionally proud of each and every pupil, as completing GCSEs and A Levels is a challenging process which requires high levels of dedication and commitment. I would like to thank our talented and dedicated staff, who have played a major role in the success of our pupils. Seeing our pupils pursue their ambitions across such a diverse range of courses is testament to our commitment to nurturing every pupil as an individual.”

As Duchy College looks forward to a new co-ed era from September, they are bringing a wide investment programme from Duchy College Pre-School to Duchy College Sixth Form.

The investment in teaching, facilities and pupil experience includes:

• A brand new stand-alone dedicated Sixth Form Centre with new individual study spaces.
• Pupils of all age groups will have the opportunity to study Design Technology (DT) as part of an Expanded Senior School Curriculum.
• New Senior Sports Programme – offering football, cricket and basketball, to complement our current sports provision.
• A new Cross-Curricular Baccalaureate-Style Programme will be known as the Duchy Award and will give pupils in Year 5 to Year 9 the ability to develop their critical thinking, creativity and collaborative skills across 8 key areas.
• The Integrated Prep and Senior Curriculum will feature aligned assessment cycles, and joint KS2 and KS3 extracurricular clubs.
• Through-School Education (2–18 years) – ensuring a seamless academic journey, with priority progression into senior school.