Students at Abbot’s Hill School in Hemel Hempstead Celebrate GCSE Results Day
20 August 2026 – Hertfordshire – Students at independent day school, Abbot’s Hill, gathered in school this morning to collect their much-anticipated GCSE results. The school, which is non-selective, is extremely proud of this year’s cohort who have worked incredibly hard over the last couple of years, with a third of talented students achieving the top tier grade 9 in at least one of their subjects. A solid 41% of grades achieved were 7-9 (A/A*) – double the national average, with more than two thirds (67%) of grades ranging between 6-9 overall.
On results day, Head at Abbot’s Hill School, Sharon Schanschieff, reflected on this year’s cohort, “We are super proud of the progress our students have made, particularly those students who have outperformed on their baseline assessments. It really does demonstrate the importance of having clear focus, unwavering resilience and a strong work ethic. I would also like to thank our dedicated staff for the ongoing commitment and support they have shown our students in reaching this milestone. Today marks a special moment in their educational journey and we are excited for what their next chapter holds.”
In relation to the school’s Value-Added (VA) score – which measures the progress a student makes from the baseline assessment they complete when they join in Year 7, to the final outcome of their GCSE results, Abbot’s Hill has an average score of 0.84; this means that on average, every student achieved almost a grade higher in every subject. This year, the school has seen particular strength in creative subjects; the VA score for art, drama and photography were all above two, meaning that each student achieved two grades higher than projected from their starting point. The school is particularly delighted that students with SEN demonstrated strong VA outcomes with scores comparable to their non-SEN peers, reflecting the school's commitment to ensuring that regardless of where they began, or the challenges they faced, students are all supported to make strong progress.
Other highlights include one quarter of the year group achieving more than seven top grades (9-7) across their subjects. A resounding 95% of students achieved grades 9-4 overall and 11 different subjects also saw three or more grade 9’s achieved.
Students at Abbot’s Hill will go on to study across a range of different options from A levels and college diplomas to vocational courses. Popular subjects include biology, psychology, English literature, economics and history. Students are moving onto a wide range of intuitions for sixth form, from independent and grammar schools, to state sixth forms and colleges for further study.
“For our students, today is the day to celebrate their achievements, as they look forward to the next stage of their educational journey wherever that may lead. On behalf of the school, we wish them all every success and happiness for the future” added Ms Schanschieff.
About Abbot’s Hill (https://www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk)
Abbot's Hill School is an independent day school for girls and boys aged 4-16 years. The school also provides a co-educational day nursery and pre-school from six months and is based on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley in Hertfordshire. With a rich heritage, the school was established in 1912 by three Scottish sisters, Alice, Katrine and Mary Baird who opened a boarding school for girls in an old family home called Abbot’s Hill. Set in 76 acres of exquisite parkland, the school thrives on delivering educational excellence, balanced with academic rigour and deep-rooted pastoral care, ensuring a diverse and happy community of individuals who are inspired and encouraged to make a difference to society and lead purposeful lives.