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Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

GCS Sixth is pleased to offer Duke of Edinburgh Award, students in Year 12 can sign up to the Gold level of the Award. From September 2026 GCS Sixth Gold expeditions will be run by Out on the Downs, with support from the school. Please see below for further details.

The Award has been around for 70 years and aims to reward students for trying to improve themselves in the areas of fitness, helping others, learning a new skill and being resilient whilst undertaking a multi-day expedition. By taking part in the program, students will learn many important life skills - how to get on with others, to be part of a team, to communicate effectively, to be proactive and to embrace challenge.

To complete the Gold award there are 5 sections:

  1. Skill
  2. Physical
  3. Volunteering
  4. Expedition
  5. Residential

Further details of which can be found on the DofE website

The award is looked highly upon by universities and workplaces alike as it shows that the person can commit and follow through with an activity, and gives them a wide breadth of knowledge in different areas. The expedition part of the Award are most likely to be undertaken in places such as Snowdonia, the Lake District and Mid-Wales.

Gold DofE is an excellent opportunity to reward students who want to go above and beyond.

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News

21st August 2025

GCSE Results 2025

Guildford County School Celebrates Superb Results at GCSE Level Guildford County School is proud to present our GCSE results as we celebrate with our outgoing Year 11 class of 2025. We are absolutely thrilled to be able to report that a third of all of our grades were at 7, 8 or 9, with 2 thirds of all grades at what is termed a ‘strong pass’ at GCSE – that is grade 5 or above. Individual subjects tell a story of excellence too – Mathematics report over 40% of all grades at a grade 7 or above; a similar story has played out in History with just under 40% at grade 7 or above; and, as a Music Specialist College, we are delighted to announce that 50% of all Music GCSE grades were also at a grade 7 or above. All told, this places our students in an incredibly strong position to enter our Sixth Form provision and we cannot wait to welcome both them and a raft of external applicants to join us in September.  They will arrive in a Sixth Form that has just secured the best results in our history, with 3 of our outgoing Year 13 students securing places to study at Oxford; 7 students securing places to read medicine; 5 students being awarded places to read Law; and 1 being offered a place at Musical Conservatoire.  All of this alongside a range of high quality apprenticeships, gap years and other professional opportunities. For students and families considering where to study for A levels, both our GCSE and A Level results underline why Guildford County Sixth Form is such a strong choice.  We offer a track record of exceptional teaching, personalised support and a vibrant, ambitious learning community that equips students to excel in any path that they choose. This year’s success is all the more remarkable given the challenges that this cohort faced earlier in their education due to the pandemic.  Our students have shown determination, resilience and a commitment to excellence that will serve them well in the years ahead.  The results also reflect the strength of partnership between our school, our families and our wider community and the unwavering dedication of our outstanding staff. We are especially proud of our top performing students, all of whom averaged at least a grade 8 across all subjects.  For their exceptional results, our special recognition goes to: Iris Isabelle Charlotte Oliver Hayden Samuel India – 9 GCSEs at grade 9 and 1 at grade 8 Samuel Daisy – 9 GCSEs at grade 9 and 1 at grade 8 Jagoda Freya Katy – 10 GCSEs at grade 9 Karina – 9 GCSEs at grade 9 and 1 at grade 8 Isu – 9 GCSEs at grade 9 and 1 at grade 8 Caitlin Steve Smith, Headteacher at Guildford County School, said “We are really pleased with the results our students have achieved today.  A third of all grades being awarded in the top band of grades 7-9 is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our student and staff community.  Following exceptional results at A level last week, we now look forward to welcoming not only internal applicants, but also many new external students into our Year 12 provision.  Aside from our Year 11 students, we also want to make special mention today of the 15 students in Years 9 and 10 who took Heritage Language GCSEs and achieved grade 9s; an amazing achievement for them all.” Guildford County Sixth Form is now welcoming applications for September 2025.  With a proven record of academic excellence and a commitment to helping every student realise their potential, there has never been a better time to join our thriving community.Read Full Article
14th August 2025

A Level Results 2025

Guildford County Sixth Form Celebrates Best A Level Results in School History Guildford County School is proud to announce that this summer’s A level results are the best in our history – by a significant margin.  At 40%, close to half of all grades awarded were at A* or A, placing our students among the very top performers nationally and opening doors to some of the most competitive and prestigious university places and apprenticeship opportunities available. For students and families considering where to study for A levels, these results underline why Guildford County Sixth Form is such a strong choice.  We offer a track record of exceptional teaching, personalised support and a vibrant, ambitious learning community that equips students to excel in any path that they choose. This year’s success is all the more remarkable given the challenges this cohort faced earlier in their education due to the pandemic.  Our students have shown determination, resilience and a commitment to excellence that will serve them well in the years ahead.  The results also reflect the strength of partnership between our school, our families and our wider community and the unwavering dedication of our outstanding staff. We are especially proud of our top-performing students: Hayden Cheung – 4 A* grades in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, and Physics Isobel Kirkwood – 3 A* grades in Biology, History, and Psychology Joseph Readhead – 3 A* grades in Biology, Chemistry, and Maths William Rees – 3 A* grades and 1 A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Chemistry Rose Shaw – 3 A* grades in History, Maths, and Sociology Emma Shepherd – 3 A* grades in Maths, Further Maths, and Physics Ethan Siu – 3 A* grades in Further Maths, Chemistry, and Maths Daisy Usherwood – 3 A* grades in Maths, Further Maths, and German Reuben Wheeler – 3 A* grades in Chemistry, Economics, and Maths Taha Khan – 2 A* grades and 2 A grades in Maths, Further Maths, Biology, and Chemistry Beyond individual successes, 3 of our students have secured places to study at Oxford; 7 students have secured places to read medicine; 1 has been offered a place at Musical Conservatoire.  All of this alongside a range of high-quality apprenticeships, gap years and other professional opportunities. Headteacher Steve Smith said: “These results are a proud moment in the history of our school.  They show that with the right support, high expectations and a community that works together, our young people can achieve at the very highest level.  For anyone considering their next step after GCSEs, Guildford County Sixth Form offers the teaching, environment and opportunities to succeed.” Guildford County Sixth Form is now welcoming applications for September 2025.  With a proven record of academic excellence and a commitment to helping every student realise their potential, there has never been a better time to join our thriving community.  Read Full Article
22nd August 2024

GCSE Results 2024

We are delighted to share with you the news of our incredibly strong GCSE results for 2024.  These results are the best we’ve ever seen at County against almost every single measure and are a testament to the relentless dedication of our staff and the remarkable work ethic of our students.  Our focus now shifts to welcoming these students into our Sixth Form, for which we are still accepting new applications, and to ensuring that they are prepared for the challenges and rigour of post 16 study. Despite all and any challenges that have faced our outgoing Year 11s’ education, it has been truly rewarding to watch them grow into the outstanding young adults that they are today, supported by a fantastic team of staff.  We are now looking forward to the upcoming national data analysis, which will allow us to precisely measure the progress of each student and the school as a whole.  That said, given our very strong attainment figures, I’m confident that we have performed admirably as a school at GCSE level and that every child should be able to take pride in their achievements. As we prepare now to enter the new academic year, our challenge is to continue striving for excellence for every single child.  We have already spent considerable time reviewing our results, student by student and our focus now will be on those marginal gains that we can continue to make and that will continue to foster truly effective learning experiences for every student. Today, then, marks the conclusion of one phase of each student’s education and presents a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their achievements.  We are incredibly proud of the Year 11 Class of 2024 for their outstanding results and wish them the very best as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.  For many, I’m thrilled to say that this next chapter will be with us here at Guildford County Sixth Form and we look forward to welcoming them and a large number of new recruits in September. As we move into the new academic year, we will make it our mission to transform the lives of the children we serve and to ensure that learning is ever at the centre of our work here at County.  We will do this with a care and dedication that set us apart from others.Read Full Article
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