On attainment, the school’s analysis places this summer’s results among the strongest in its history and in line with or above where St Mary’s stood before the pandemic, achieved with a substantially larger cohort and no narrowing of the curriculum offered to students.

The size of this year’s cohort reflects a decade of steady growth at St Mary’s as more families have chosen the school for their children. This morning’s results show what that choice has delivered for them.

Progress, which measures how far students travel from their starting points compared with students of the same ability nationally, is the telling result. It shows that whatever a young person’s starting point at St Mary’s, they leave having achieved more than they might have done elsewhere. This year that held true right across the year group: for the most able and for those who needed the most support, for boys and for girls, for students with special educational needs, and for students whose families face the greatest pressures outside school. Not one group was overlooked.

Headteacher Deirdre McHugh praised the students and the staff who had taught them. “I am proud of every student who collected results this morning, and proudest that no group among them was left behind,” she said. “Our most able were stretched. Those who needed more support received it. Each of them has gone further than their starting point predicted. That is what a Catholic education looks like in practice, and it is why families choose us. With the guidance of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust and the support of our parents, we have delivered it this year for more young people than ever before.”

Paul Carroll, Chair of Governors, commented: “Governors see the work behind a morning like this long before the results are opened. This has been our largest year group, and our staff have improved outcomes for every group of students within it – St Mary’s is flourishing.”

St Mary’s is part of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, led by Chief Executive Andrew Celano, himself a former pupil and Headteacher of the school. He paid tribute to the Headteacher, governors, staff and students. “More families are choosing St Mary’s each year, and this morning’s results show they are right to,” he said. “Every group of students has progressed beyond expectation. They can now move on confidently to sixth form and beyond, equipped not only with exceptional academic results, but also with a Catholic education steeped in gospel values and having ensured the full development of mind, body and spirit.”

Among those celebrating this morning were twin brothers Daniel and Thomas King, who came to St Mary's from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Bishop's Stortford. Both are staying on for Sixth Form, Daniel to study Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Computer Science, Thomas to study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics.

The brothers took much the same route to results day and achieved a grade 9, nine Grade 8’s and six grade 7’s between them! Both worked through several years of past papers and built mind maps of the course content, with Thomas adding online videos and his own notes. Each was quick to thank his parents and teachers.

Their father, John King, said: "Daniel and Thomas worked extremely hard for their exams and we are very proud of them. They have both done exceptionally well, and they can now get on with studying the subjects they love."

The class of 2026 now move on to Sixth Form study at St Mary’s, to colleges, and to apprenticeships and training across the area, taking with them an education shaped as much by character and faith as by examination success. The Sixth Form remains open for late applications and enquiries.

About St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (https://www.stfrancistrust.net)
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (St Francis Trust) is a multi-academy trust established in 2021. It currently serves nine Catholic schools – eight primary schools and one secondary school and which is growing to welcome two more Secondary schools and four more Primary schools over the next one to two years.

The Trust’s mission is to provide an outstanding Catholic education for all the children in our schools, helping them to grow in faith and reach their full potential. Guided by the values of St Francis, the Trust promotes academic excellence, spiritual development, and service to others.