Students across the South East, including Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, received their GCSE and equivalent results on Thursday morning, 20 August 2026. Many expressed joy and relief with their outcomes.
Velissity from Guildford County School achieved a grade nine in Maths, while her friend Askja plans to study Sociology, Psychology and Textiles. Noah from Claverham Community College reported achieving straight nines, with two grade eights. Eden, also from Claverham, was happy to have passed Maths and all core subjects.
The Department for Education (DfE) advised students not to panic if their results were not as hoped. Alternatives such as V Levels, T Levels, or apprenticeships are available, and students can also request a review of their paper if they were close to a higher grade.
The overall GCSE pass rate across the UK remained stable, with 67.3% of all grades in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland at 4/C and above, a 0.1% decrease from the previous year. The proportion of top grades, marked at 7/A or above, saw a slight increase from 21.9% last year to 22% this year.
Among those receiving results was Anita Prindler, 49, from Dartford, who achieved a Grade 4 in English and Maths. She plans to start a degree before teaching secondary school Business Studies, driven by a desire to help others grow and bring real-world experience into the classroom.