Brentford & Isleworth GCSE Candidates Deliver

Strong exam performances despite unique challenges for the year group

Isleworth and Syon students with their results. Back row: Ayaan Memon, Owais Hussain and Syon Chatterjee. Front row: Ayman Shah and Jayden Kwok.

August 22, 2025

Exam results reported so far for school across the Brentford & Isleworth area appear to indicate that local GCSE candidates have excelled despite it being a particularly challenging year.

This cohort had their studies disrupted by the pandemic yet were given no allowance for this with marking standards being brought back to pre-Covid levels.

Despite this, students at Isleworth & Syon School are marking another year of strong GCSE outcomes, with results reflecting both academic attainment and wider contributions to school life.

This year’s results include notable performances in science, mathematics, the arts, and sport. Several students achieved top grades in core subjects, with science outcomes particularly strong: over half of chemistry grades were awarded at 9 or 8, and more than two-thirds of physics students attained the highest two grades.

Among the individual successes, Jayden Kwok earned nine grades at 9–8, including top marks in all three sciences and mathematics. Owais Hussain also achieved straight 9s in the sciences and maths, alongside an 8 in engineering. Ayaan Memon secured 9s in biology, chemistry and physics, supported by a strong overall profile. Syon Chatterjee and Hanaan Hussain were recognised for their academic and extracurricular engagement, with achievements spanning STEM subjects, English, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Christopher Edwards combined academic success with regular representation in school sports, including football, rugby and athletics.

The performing arts continue to be a prominent feature of the school’s offer. Three students have secured places at the Purcell School, a specialist music institution, with Ayman Shah among them. Shah, a clarinettist and founding member of a student band, also led the school’s Maths Challenge Club. His bandmate Ashish Kurian also received strong results. Drama remains a popular and successful subject, with 74% of students achieving grades between 9 and 4. David Ali, Axle Moldero and Vanshpreet Singh have all featured in recent school productions and achieved a combined total of 25 grades at 9–7.

Co-Headteachers Simon Fisher and Jo Higginbottom said, “We are delighted with the achievements of our Year 11 students. These results reflect their determination to succeed, the expertise of our teaching staff, and the unwavering support from families at home. Our boys have shown that with commitment, hard work and belief, they can reach their potential and grow into confident, capable young men.”

Meanwhile, Gunnersbury Catholic school is claiming to be the number one school in the borough for GCSEs with an impressive 46% of students achieved grades 9-7. 91% of students achieved five or more GCSEs including English and Maths.

Gunnersbury School GCSE candidates with their results

Nishkam School saw 35% of students achieve Grades 9–7 in both English and Maths, well above the national average of around 22% and 53% of students achieved a Grade 7 or higher in English and 45% in Maths – more than double national outcomes.

29 students achieved exclusively Grades 9–7 across all of their GCSE subjects.

Results were particularly strong in science with 90% of grades at 9–7 across all three sciences and all candidates in German and Italian got one of the three top grades.

The school said, These outcomes show that our students not only achieve highly across the board but also excel at the very top end, opening doors to the most competitive A-level and university courses."

More details of other school’s results will be published here as they are received.

For the borough of Hounslow, 76% of students in achieved a pass rate of 4+ in Maths, compared with the national average of 72%. A further 82% of students achieved a pass rate of 4+ in English, compared to the national average of 71%.

Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment at Hounslow Council, commented: “Congratulations to all those who have worked hard and shown great ability in their GCSEs. These results reflect the effort and determination of young people in the borough. I would also like to thank the teachers for working tirelessly to ensure that young people, including those with special educational needs, are given the correct environment to foster the skills and knowledge needed for a brighter future."

This year’s GCSE results, released across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, reflect a continued adjustment following the return to pre-pandemic grading standards. Nationally, the proportion of top grades (7/A and above) fell to 21.6%, down from 22.4% in 2023 and significantly lower than the 28.9% peak seen in 2021 when teacher-assessed grades were used. The overall pass rate (grades 4/C and above) also declined slightly to 66.4%, compared to 67.8% last year.

In London, students continued to outperform the national average, with inner London boroughs in particular seeing a higher proportions of top grades, with selective and high-performing comprehensives contributing to the trend.
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The results come amid wider debates about the fairness and consistency of grading, especially for students who began their secondary education during lockdowns. Education leaders have noted that this year’s cohort faced unique challenges, having missed substantial classroom time in Years 7 and 8. Despite this, many schools reported resilience and progress, with some headteachers calling for renewed investment in catch-up programmes and mental health support.

The Department for Education has reiterated its commitment to maintaining grading standards, while acknowledging the need to support students through the transition.