Sussex Students Celebrate GCSE Success Despite Fall in Pass Rates
Hassocks, West Sussex, Students across Sussex have expressed pride and relief after receiving their GCSE results, despite the region experiencing one of the steepest declines in pass rates in the UK.
At Downlands Community School in Hassocks, pupils gathered with friends and family to open their envelopes, with many describing the moment as nerve-wracking but rewarding. “We all opened our envelopes and filmed each other, I think everyone is pretty happy,” said Rebecca, who passed in sports studies and food technology. She now plans to pursue beauty therapy at Brighton Metropolitan College.
Figures show that in East Sussex, 67.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or higher (equivalent to a C under the old system), a 0.8% drop compared to 2024. In West Sussex, the pass rate stood at 68.1%, down by 0.4% from last year. The number of students achieving the top grade 9s also fell in both counties, reflecting the broader national downward trend.
For many students, however, personal achievement outweighed the statistics. Angus, another Downlands student, said he was “in disbelief and proud” of his performance. “Mocks were a massive wake-up call for me, but my teachers were a huge influence,” he added.
At Brighton College, Ukrainian refugee Liza, who arrived in the UK in 2022 and received a full scholarship, earned special recognition for her art GCSE. “I have mixed feelings but I’m so happy,” she said. “I haven’t seen my grandparents since the start of the war, but I know they will be proud of what I’ve achieved.”
Downlands headteacher Mark Wignall, who is stepping down from his role after this year’s results, praised the resilience of his students. “They’ve done really well, and I’m sure we will see a range of emotions today,” he said.
Despite the dip in regional performance, the mood among students remained upbeat, with many determined to celebrate their successes and look forward to the next stage of their education.