We congratulate the students of 2026 for their achievements in their GCSE and other KS4 exams. All of those prepared for examination by CFS achieved the grades they need to enrol at the sixth form or college of their choice.

Our performance analysis

This data analysis focusses on the three previous cohorts as prior to that, the COVID impact makes the data less reliable for comparison purposes.

Progress against school targets

Our primary performance measure for internal quality assurance purposes is Progress against MEGS. This is because it applies the same criteria to each cohort and is independent of pupils’ starting points and inherent potential.

We measure progress by using the CAT tests taken in Y8 to provide an initial baseline indicator of cognitive abilities and predicted GCSE grades. These predictors are occasionally calibrated using other relevant data to give a school minimum expected grade (MEG).

Using this measure, our overall progress score this year (including RS) was 0.8, compared with 0.0 in 2025, 0.9 in 2024, 0.5 in 2023 and 1.14 in 2022. This means that on average students achieved well above their Minimum Expected Grades in their eight best GCSE subjects. Progress scores between -0.25 and +0.25 are generally considered as average progress; scores above 0.5 are generally considered very good progress.

Students performing at or above their target grade (MEG)

The table below shows the percentage of pupils achieving at or above their Minimum Expected Grade (MEG) in each subject, compared with the previous four years.

Subject	2026	2025	2024	2023	2022
Religious Studies	71%	67%	100%	67%	92%
English Language	59%	80%	78%	83%	92%
English Literature	59%	26%	67%	65%	85%
Maths	76%	89%	89%	65%	61%
Science (Trilogy)	83%	75%	80%	68%	71%
Biology	71%	38%	100%	75%	100%
Chemistry	86%	43%	100%	75%	100%
Physics	71%	71%	100%	100%	100%
History	85%	59%	75%	57%	73%
French	57%	50%	83%	53%	88%
PE	100%	60%	50%	50%	69%
Art	50%	83%	100%	100%	83%
Business Studies	100%	60%	n/a	78%	100%
Computer Science	n/a	100%	n/a	50%	n/a

As always, with small cohort sizes, percentage figures can be impacted by one or two students, and year-on-year comparisons should therefore be treated with caution. Biology, Chemistry and Physics entries in 2026 (7 pupils each) reflect a substantially higher proportion of the cohort taking separate sciences than in several previous years, which should be borne in mind alongside the Science (Trilogy) comparison.

Attainment 8 score

Our Attainment 8 score (based on the best eight GCSE grades) is 64.2 compared with 60.6 last year and 69.6 the previous year.

By way of comparison, DfE published data showed that in 2025 CFS ranked 2nd of the 11 mainstream secondary schools in Liverpool on Attainment 8, behind only the selective Blue Coat School (79.5), and ahead of the next-highest-attaining school (57.0). This year’s comparative figures for Liverpool schools will be published in January 2027.  

English & Maths

This year 88% of our students achieved strong passes (5 or above) in English and Maths, compared with 84% in 2025, 89% in 2024, 87% in 2023, 70% in 2022.

EBacc

This year 71% of students were entered for the EBacc suite of subjects (two sciences, a modern foreign language and a humanities subject, in addition to English and Maths) — compared with 68% in 2025, 89% in 2024, 57% in 2023, 77% in 2022.

Our average EBacc point score (including all pupils in the cohort) is 6.1, compared with 6.2 in 2025, 6.65 in 2024, 6.8 in 2023 and 6.1 in 2022. The national average EBacc point score is 4.1.

All core subjects (% with passes at Grade Grade 4/5 or higher)

In analysing our performance in the core subjects, we note that each year’s cohort is numerically small compared to most other schools, meaning that one pupil can make a significant difference. Also cohorts can change significantly from year to year in terms of whether they are biased towards academic subjects or towards creative and practical subjects. This makes year-on-year comparisons less valid than in schools where student numbers are greater and the cohort profiles less variable.

Subject	Grade 4+	Grade 5+
Maths	100%	88%
English Language	100%	88%
English Literature	100%	76%
Science Trilogy*	86%	71%
Biology*	100%	100%
Chemistry*	100%	100%
Physics*	100%	100%
Religious Studies	100%	94%
French*	82%	73%
History*	93%	80%
PE (Full Course)*	100%	100%
Art*	75%	75%
Hospitality & Catering*	100%	100%

* Figures are based on the percentage of students who studied the subject, rather than the whole cohort, since not all pupils take these subjects. Cohort sizes for PE, Art, Business Studies and Hospitality & Catering are very small this year, so single-pupil results should be treated with particular caution.  

Finally ...

We are thankful to God for the excellent work ethic that prevailed in this cohort and for the mutual encouragement that they gave to one another. Beyond their academic achievements, this cohort will be remembered for the outstanding leadership they showed throughout their time at CFS — they were exceptional ambassadors for the school, and worked in genuine partnership with staff to help drive forward school improvement. That leadership was both practical and spiritual in character, and we are incredibly proud of them and also deeply grateful to them.