Most pupils receiving their GCSE results this week were in primary school when Covid-19 began, impacting their preparation for secondary education. Their achievements, particularly in English and maths, are seen as a testament to their resilience and the efforts of teachers.
The overall impression is a return to stability, moving past the period of cancelled exams. While the proportion of top grades rose slightly, the overall pass rate decreased by the same margin to 67.3%, aligning with 2019 figures.
Concerns persist regarding the decline in language learning, with a sharp fall in GCSE take-up for French and other modern languages. Regional disparities in top grades also remain, with London schools outperforming those in the north and Midlands.
A significant number of teenagers did not achieve a grade 4 pass in English and maths. The policy in England of compulsory resits in these subjects is noted, with only 18.8% of those aged 17 and over achieving the required pass in English, a decrease from last year, and an even smaller proportion for maths.
The government plans to introduce a new “stepping stone” qualification to build confidence before resits. Andy Burnham and his education secretary, Lucy Powell, are promising an overhaul from 2028, potentially changing the educational landscape for 14- to 16-year-olds in England by expanding technical education options.