Students across Olive Academies celebrated a strong set of outcomes for 2025–26, with achievements across academic qualifications, attendance and behaviour reflecting the progress young people have made throughout their time with us.
For our 2025-26 cohort, 65% of Olive Academies students achieved four or more GCSEs, while 44% achieved five or more GCSEs. On average, students achieved 7.2 Level 1 qualifications, demonstrating the breadth of academic and vocational pathways available across the trust. The alternative provision average rate of achieving 1 or more GCSE is 49% - showing we are well above sector national averages.
Achievement in the core subjects was particularly strong. 81% of students achieved a Level 1 GCSE pass in both English and Maths, compared with a national PRU average of 35%. In Science, where the trust saw a significant increase in the number of students entered for qualifications, 67% achieved a Level 1 GCSE pass, compared with a national PRU average of 25%.
These results are an important achievement, but at Olive Academies, success is never defined by qualifications alone.
Behind every result is a young person who has their own experiences, challenges, strengths and aspirations. For some students, reaching the end of Year 11 represents a significant journey of re-engaging with education, rebuilding confidence, developing positive relationships and beginning to believe in their own potential again.
Our approach is centred on helping young people to belong, thrive and achieve. Academic progress is an important part of that journey, but so too are the changes that happen beyond the classroom – including improved attendance, positive behaviour, confidence and wellbeing.
This wider impact can be seen in our attendance figures. Overall attendance across Olive Academies was 70.5%, which is 13.3% above the national PRU average.
The proportion of pupils classed as severely absent was also significantly lower than the national picture. 20.5% of Olive Academies pupils were severely absent, compared with 40.4% nationally.
For young people who may previously have struggled to engage consistently with education, attending school regularly is a significant achievement in itself. Every additional day in school provides another opportunity to learn, build relationships, access support and take another step forward.
The trust has also seen positive outcomes in behaviour. Suspension rates were 44% lower than the national average for AP, while the proportion of young people receiving at least one suspension was 45% lower.
These figures reflect the importance of creating calm, supportive and nurturing environments where young people feel understood and where staff can work with them to address the barriers affecting their education.
We are incredibly proud of what our students have achieved. These results reflect not only their hard work and determination, but the wider progress they have made in confidence, attendance, behaviour and engagement with learning. Every young person’s journey is different, and it is fantastic to see so many taking positive steps towards their future.
Ryan Kelsall, Director of Education
Olive Academies would like to thank its students for the commitment, resilience and determination they have shown, as well as the parents, carers and partners who have supported them along the way.
A particular thank you goes to the staff across the trust, whose dedication and belief in young people underpin every one of these achievements. From teachers and pastoral teams to support staff, leaders and colleagues, their commitment to understanding each young person and helping them move forward has made a lasting difference.