ESA GCSE and Level 2 Results 2025

Written By Chris Mitchell

In a year when English and Maths outcomes went down nationally, ESA’s results went up!  What a year it has been for ESA - we were judged to be outstanding in every category by Ofsted in February 2025 and now, even more importantly, our students have achieved some excellent results.  

ESA is pleased to report that 62% of our learners achieved a level 4 [pass] or higher in English and maths.  This is 2% higher than last year.  We are particularly pleased by our English results where over 76.2% of students achieved a level 4 pass or better.  This is almost 6% above the national average.  In maths, 66.3% of students achieved a level 4 pass or better [7% better than last year].

ESA is a specialist educator in the creative arts, providing a culture curriculum with a focus on media, production and the creative technologies supporting film, TV and theatre.  We are therefore delighted that our specialist subjects have seen some simply outstanding results:

  • Creative Media Production [94% 4+] [83% 5+] [50% 7+]

  • Dance [100% 4+] [100% 5+] [53% 7+]

  • Film Studies [85% 4+] [74% 5+] [38% 7+]

  • Production Hair and Makeup [95% 4+] [74% 5+] [21% 7+]

  • Photography [85% 4+] [68% 5+] [38% 7+]

  • Music Performance and Production [100% 4+] [93% 5+] [47% 7+]

ESA is an inclusive school, so we are really pleased that students with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities [SEND] achieved very well.  Nationally, there is a gap between the achievement of SEND students when compared with the achievements of those without SEND, at ESA there is no gap!  In fact, students with SEND have outperformed other students which is really impressive.

As wonderful as it is to see excellent results, what matters more is the progress students make.  At ESA we get very excited when students achieve and surpass expectation because this shows the ambition and resilience of our learners.  We are delighted that 71% of all grades are on or above target grade, with nearly half (47%) of students surpassing their target grade.  Whatever grade you got, if it was better than your target grade, then you are an absolute superhero.   

Ava Smashed it with 9, 9 ,9, Distinction, 8, 5, 5, 5

Some notable achievements:

  • Ava - 9, 9 ,9, Distinction, 8, 5, 5, 5

  • Frankie - Distinction*, 9, 8, 8, 8, 7, 6, 6

  • Micah - 9, 9, 9, Distinction, 7, 6, 5, Pass

  • Melanie - 9, 9, 9, 9, Distinction, 8, 8, 8

  • Adam - 9, 9, Distinction, 8, 5, 5, 5, Pass

  • Maisie - 9, 9, Distinction, Distinction, 7, 7, 6, 5

  • Oana - 9, Distinction, 8, 8, 8, 8, 7, 6, 5 

  • Saffi - 9, 9, Distinction, Distinction, 8, 8, 7, 6, 5,


Special mention:

ESA is an inclusive college that supports all young people whatever their educational history to re-engage and achieve, so we would like to offer our special congratulations to the following students who met and exceeded expected grades in all 9 GCSE and level 2 subjects - that is simply outstanding.

  • Abi

  • Ariana

  • Daisy

  • Harvey

  • Ruby D

  • Ruby J

  • Tilly

  • Ava

  • Saffi

Chris Mitchell, ESA Principal, commented,

“Nicely done ESA Class of 2025!  What wonderful results.  We are certainly proud of the outcomes our students have achieved,  but we are even more impressed by who they have become.  They are resilient and creative, full of good will and good humour.  They have found their voice and developed confidence studying a creative specialism that they love.  We love them, we’re proud of them and we can’t wait to see what they go on to create and all the contributions they will make to our shared future.”

Chris Mitchell
Next

ESA’s Post 16 Results 2025