Pupils celebrate GCSE results

Over half a million pupils are celebrating their GCSE results today (Thursday 12 August), with overall grades slightly up on last year. 

Results show 79.1% of entries received a grade 4 or above – equivalent to a pass – increasing 0.3 percentage points on last year. Similarly, 80.9% of pupils achieved four or above in English and 77.9 in maths, increasing by 0.7 and 0.8 percentage points (ppt) respectively, enabling them to move on to the next stage of education or training despite the disruption of the pandemic.  

This year’s GCSE grades were determined by those who know students best – their teachers – with students only assessed on what they had been taught, under plans to ensure fairness for young people. 

The figures show 7.7% of entries are at grade 9, 30.0% at grade 7 or above – showing small increases of 1.1 percentage ppt and 2.4 ppts on 2020 respectively.  

Ofqual reported earlier this week that the arrangements have also helped limit the widening of historic gaps between groups of students and types of school. 

Students receiving results will have the opportunity to move on to a range of high-quality post-16 options, from A-levels to vocational and technical qualifications. This is the second year that young people can move on to study T-levels, with seven new subject choices available from September, including healthcare, science and onsite construction.  

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Young people have worked hard despite the challenges of the last year and they should feel incredibly proud of their achievements today.  

“Every young person can now look forward with excitement to taking their next steps, whether that is studying A-levels or our new T-levels or taking one of the many other routes available, like an apprenticeship. 

 “I also want to pay a special tribute to teachers and school leaders, who have gone above and beyond to support their students this year.” 

This summer’s GCSE grades were subject to quality assurance, with all grades being checked by schools or colleges – and one in five having a sample of their grades checked by exam boards – helping to give students, parents, colleges, universities and employers confidence in grades. 

Students receiving their results today can get advice about their next steps from the National Careers Service with a wide range of post-16 options are available to this cohort, from the new T-levels which started last year to hundreds of high-quality apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.   

The government intends for GCSE and A-level exams to go ahead next summer, and together with Ofqual recently ran a consultation on arrangements for the assessments to recognise the disruption to students’ education during the pandemic.

The proposals include choices about the topics students will be assessed on for some subjects, and giving schools and colleges advance information about the focus of content of the exams for other subjects.