Brighton College Dubai Pupils Achieve Highest Marks in the World in Pearson Edexcel GCSEs

Brighton College Dubai once again celebrates exceptional academic success, as two of its pupils have been named among the world’s highest achievers in the 2024/25 Pearson Edexcel examination series.

The Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards (OPLAs) recognise pupils who achieve the highest marks globally, regionally, or nationally across all Pearson Edexcel qualifications. This year, Brighton College Dubai pupils earned three distinctions – two at world level and one at regional level – marking another notable year of academic achievement for the College.

Year 12 pupil Ibrahim Hassan Chatha achieved the Highest Mark in the World for GCSE Spanish and the Highest Mark in the Middle East for GCSE Physical Education, demonstrating outstanding achievement across two distinct academic disciplines. Year 12 pupil Rudayna Islam Yassin received the Highest Mark in the World for GCSE Business, reflecting her analytical excellence and passion for understanding global enterprise.

Mr. Simon Crane, Head Master of Brighton College Dubai, said: “These results reflect the ambition and determination of our pupils, who continue to set the bar high both locally and internationally. Ibrahim and Rudayna have displayed remarkable dedication and intellectual curiosity, and their achievements further illustrate the high quality of teaching and supportive community we have at Brighton College Dubai.”

Each year, Pearson honours only a select group of pupils worldwide with the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards. In 2025, just over 2,100 learners from 740 schools across 85 countries received recognition, placing Ibrahim and Rudayna among the top tier of global achievers. To be eligible for an OPLA award, pupils must achieve Grade 9 in their International GCSE or UK GCSE examinations, representing the highest level of academic excellence attainable.

This latest success is particularly notable for Rudayna, who continues to build an extraordinary academic record. In last year’s awards, she was celebrated with three distinctions, including the Highest Mark in the World for International GCSE Mathematics A, the Highest Mark in the Middle East for GCSE French, and the Highest Mark in the UAE for International GCSE Computer Science – achievements that made her one of the youngest multi-award recipients in the region.

In the same Pearson Edexcel 2024/2025 examination series, a wider group of Brighton College Dubai pupils also achieved outstanding results. A further ten pupils secured Grade 8 or above in at least five subjects, highlighting their strong and consistent performance across the curriculum.

Brighton College Dubai’s continued recognition in the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards underscores its focus on academic depth, individual potential, and the pursuit of excellence across every subject area.

Following the confirmation of their results at the end of 2025, award recipients received an Outstanding Pearson Learner Award certificate from Pearson Edexcel, and Brighton College Dubai hosted a special ceremony in January to celebrate their achievements.