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Dover Court International School is proud to announce that 10 of its students received 12 Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards (OPLA), recognising the highest marks in Singapore and globally across the IGCSE/GCSE examinations in May 2025. Additionally, 35 Dover Court students earned Pearson Excellence Awards, celebrating exceptional results across multiple subjects.
DCIS Principal, Christopher Short, reflected on the awards: “It was lovely to see the look of pride on the faces of the students and their parents as they received their awards. For the school to have such a large number of awards across a wide variety of subjects is a testament to the great work of our students supported by their hard working and dedicated teachers.”
The Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards are presented annually to students worldwide who achieve the highest marks in Pearson Edexcel qualifications. These awards highlight academic excellence at the very highest level, recognising learners who not only achieve top grades but also the highest subject marks globally or nationally.
The Pearson Excellence Awards celebrate students who achieve excellent results across multiple subjects – grades 8 and above in at least five subjects – showcasing breadth as well as depth of achievement.
A Community That Supports Success
This year’s achievements reflect the strength of Dover Court’s inclusive, supportive and non-selective approach and its innovative three-year IGCSE programme. The three-year IGCSE programme at Dover Court, beginning in Year 9, gives students the time to build subject knowledge, develop confidence, and prepare thoroughly for exams.
This year’s I/GCSE results at Dover Court were outstanding, with over half of all grades awarded at the top levels 9–7 (equivalent to A*/A in the previous grading system), reflecting a high level of academic achievement.
As Carla Hyland, Deputy Head of Secondary – Curriculum and Learning, explains: “Our three-year approach allows students to explore their passions earlier, while providing us with the opportunity to best prepare them for their examinations.”
This structure, combined with personalised learning and strong pastoral care, ensures every student can achieve their potential.
Student Perspectives
Our students’ reflections highlight the value of this approach:
“Over the three years before our final coursework, we followed the GCSE DT structure of research, design, making, and evaluation, which built a strong foundation for managing the 50%-weighted project.” – Shrigauri, Year 12, Highest Mark in the World for Design and Technology
“The consistent past paper practice really helped me build confidence, and my maths teacher made a huge difference in improving my understanding and results.” – Seojung, Year 12, Highest Mark in Singapore for Statistics
"Having three years of an I/GCSE programme helped a lot because Year 11 was quite busy, so it was good to start in Year 9. I felt very supported by my friends and class in Drama as we had to work in groups and keep the mood light during practices, and our performances helped me feel less stressed, and all the English teachers were really nice and approachable, which encouraged me to ask more questions." – Kayra, Year 12, Highest Marks in Singapore for Drama, English Language and English Literature
Rachel Edwards, Head of Secondary, adds: “This is a significant achievement for our young people and their families, and it is well-deserved recognition. Our thanks go to their teachers and our support teams for their challenge, encouragement, and care.”
These achievements reflect the impact of Dover Court’s inclusive community that values and supports every student’s success. At Dover Court, excellence is not just about grades – it’s about creating opportunities for every student to go further than they imagined.
Click here to learn more about how Dover Court’s inclusive approach and innovative curriculum prepare students to achieve remarkable things – including world-leading academic results.