Downe House Riyadh is celebrating the achievements of its A Level, BTEC and GCSE students, recognising not only their results, but the individual journeys, determination and progress behind them.

As a close-knit school community, every student’s journey is known. There is no ‘typical’ Downe House girl. Each brings her own ambitions and story, united by the values of the Downe House DNA. This year’s results celebrate not only academic outcomes, but the progress, resilience and aspiration shown by our students throughout their time at Downe House Riyadh.

At Sixth Form, students are celebrating achievements across both A Level and BTEC pathways, reflecting Downe House Riyadh’s commitment to supporting each student to pursue the pathway that best suits her strengths, ambitions and future goals.

Students achieved a 100% pass rate across AS and A Levels, with almost half of all grades awarded at A*-B grades. This is alongside a 100% pass rate in BTEC subjects. Behind these results are individual stories of perseverance, academic growth and ambition, with students securing university places and scholarship opportunities in Saudi Arabia and internationally. Among the notable achievements, Leen Alyahyawi secured a place at the University of California, Berkeley, alongside a full Saudi scholarship. Yasmin Zaini received multiple offers and scholarships from leading institutions including IE University Madrid, Indiana University Bloomington and the University of Colorado Boulder.

At GCSE level, there was equally strong cause for celebration. Across the cohort, students achieved successes that reflected their individual starting points, ambitions and personal progress. For some, this meant achieving the very highest grades; for others, exceeding expectations, making significant progress or securing the results needed to take their chosen next step. Together, these achievements reflect the ambition, determination and individual growth of the cohort.

Across all GCSE examination entries, students achieved an impressive 98% overall pass rate. 86% of grades were awarded at 9–4 or above (a 20% increase on the previous year) representing the recognised standard pass, broadly equivalent to the former A*–C grades. 74% achieved the higher benchmark of a strong pass at grades 9–5 or above, while at the highest grades, nearly a third of all grades awarded were at 9–7, broadly equivalent to the former A*–A grades.

Performance was particularly strong across the core subjects, with 100% of students achieving a grade 5 or above in both English Language and English Literature, 95% achieving a grade 4 or above in Mathematics, and 89% of Combined Science grades awarded at grade 4 or above. The school also celebrated excellent outcomes in Arabic Language, with Year 10 early entry students completing their Arabic IGCSE ahead of their final GCSE year, with 100% achieving grade 5 or above and 80% securing the highest grades of 9–7.

Commenting on these achievements, Ms Deborah Sharifi, Principal of Downe House Riyadh, said: “These results are a fantastic reflection of our girls’ ambition, hard work and determination. At Downe House, there is no ‘typical’ Downe House girl. We nurture individuality while challenging every student to stretch herself beyond her comfort zone, discover her strengths and pursue her own ambitions. United by our Downe House DNA, we could not be prouder of all they have achieved.”

Mr Darren Gale, Managing Director, GCC for Cognita Middle East, added: “These achievements reflect the high-quality education and personalised support that students receive at Downe House Riyadh. As part of Cognita’s global family of schools, Downe House Riyadh benefits from a shared commitment to educational excellence, innovation and developing confident, future-ready learners. These strong outcomes demonstrate how students are being equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive both within the Kingdom and internationally.”

Ms Emma McKendrick, Headmistress of Downe House UK, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of the girls at Downe House Riyadh. As a family of schools deeply committed to girls’ education, we believe in creating an environment where every girl is encouraged to be ambitious, intellectually curious and confident in her potential. These results reflect those values, and we are proud to see our girls progressing to exciting opportunities around the world.”

These results combine strong academic outcomes with individual examples of exceptional progress and achievement, reflecting Downe House Riyadh’s commitment to recognising each girl’s individual journey while supporting and challenging her to fulfil her potential.