They charge eye watering amounts and achieve some of the best results in the UK. Some are non-selective, others cherry pick for academic success and offer scholarships for those who cannot afford to pay. So how do Wales' independent fee paying schools perform at GCSE?

Here we take a look at GCSE results in 2024 from Wales' independent schools and how they compare with one another and the overall Wales average. With the new Labour government announcing VAT on private school fees many will be under pressure as they approach the new academic year. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.

Some private schools run England's number graded GCSE series, so we have included both and the comparative Wales series letter grades. Comparisons with England and Wales' GCSE systems this year is tricky because England returned to pre-pandemic exam conditions with no extra support last year. With "normal" Wales series exams run this year for the first time since 2019, results were expected to dip, while those for England dipped last year and rose this year.

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These are the overall summer 2024 GCSE results for Wales from the Joint Council for Qualifications for all GCSEs. Read on to see how each independent school did in comparison:

  • 19.2% candidates awarded the top grades A*/9 – A/7

  • 62.2% A*/9 to C/4

  • 96.6% A*/9-G/1

St Gerard’s School, Bangor

  • 97% pass A*-C
  • A*-A 58%

Among those celebrating were Maya Segun (eight A*s, two As), Lily Braden (three A*s, seven As), Charlotte Riches (five A*s, five As), and Deacon Fisher (four A*s, three As and two Bs).

Others to receive their grades included Jack Lowry (three A*s, six As and a 6), Elissa Gibson (three A*s, seven As and a B), Alice Roberts (two A*s, seven As and two Bs), Megan Rae Jones (two A*s, four As and four Bs), and Lola Ashwell with one A*, five As and five Bs.

St. Michael’s School, Llanelli

  • A*-A 87%
  • A*-B 97.1%
  • A*-C 99.8%
  • 100% of all pupils gained five or more A*- C grades
  • 90% of pupils gained five or more A*- A grades
  • Over a quarter of all pupils achieved 100% A* grades.

Christ College, Brecon

  • 23% of grades achieved were A* (grade 9/8)
  • 34% of grades achieved were A* - A (grade 9-7)
  • 74% of grades achieved were A* - B (grades 9-5)
  • One in five pupils achieved six or more A* grades (grade 9/8)

The Cathedral School, Llandaff

  • 55% of grades at 9 or 8 (equivalent to A**/A*)
  • 72% of all grades at 9-7 (A*/A).
  • A quarter of the cohort achieved exclusively grades 9 or 8
  • 100% of all grades at 9-4 (A*-C).
  • The most common grade awarded overall was 9 (A**), the highest possible grade.

Howell’s School, Llandaff

  • 46% of grades A*/8, 9
  • 64% of grades A*- A/7, 8, 9
  • 85% of students who sat the higher tier in their Maths GCSE achieving an A* or A grade.

Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay

  • 25% A* (9 to 8)
  • 47% of pupils secured A* to A (9 to 7)
  • 98% of Rydal Penrhos pupils achieved A* to C (9 to 4)

Success stories include Finlay Perry with two 9s, an 8, six A*s, two As and distinction in additional maths. Kenan Buckley earned a 9, an 8, four A*s, three As, a B and distinction in additional maths.

Finlay and Kenan also received their OCR Level 3 Maths Qualification; an advanced certification in the subject equivalent to an AS Level.

St Clare’s, Porthcawl

  • 53% of grades at A*- A
  • 80+% at A*-B
  • 100% pass rate across all subjects
  • Just overr 97% of grades achieved were A*-C.

Redhill School, Pembrokeshire

  • 70% A*A grades for all the school’s year 11 students

Ruthin School, Denbighshire

  • 25% 9
  • 40% were grades 9-8

St John’s College, Cardiff

  • A* 53%
  • A*-A 79%
  • A*-B 93%

Rougemont School, Newport

  • A* 24%
  • A*-A 49%
  • A*-B 76%

Haberdasher Monmouth Schools

54% of the girls' school graded 9-7 (A*-A)

47.2% of the boys' school graded 9-7 (A*-A)

(the two schools are merging in September)

Individual successes include Fay Russell, from Chepstow, with 10 grade 9s and Claire Chen, Orla Edwards, Keilah Greaves, Constance Humphries, Martha Llewelyn, Esme McCrum, Dilys Murcott, Isla MacMaster and Zahara Solosy who all achieved a full house of grades 9-7.

There was another clean sweep of grade 9s in the Boys’ School, with Kopano Matli achieving nine top grades, as well as two A*s. Other students who achieved a full house of 9-7 grades (or A*-A) were William Beynon, Samuel Carver, Hugh Major, Alexander Simmons, Thomas Guerin, James Wardle, Theo Burt and Chun Ho Wong.

From September this year, Haberdashers’ Monmouth School will be fully co-educational from age 3 to 18.

Myddleton College, Denbigh

93% Grades 9-4 (A*-C)

Llandovery College

A*- A 28% (compared with 23% 2019)

78% A*- C (compared with 73% 2019)

Llandovery College’s highest performing students secured an impressive 9A*s and 2As, 6A*s and 5As, with many more delighted students achieving of A*/A grades in numerous subjects.

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