GCSE pass rate falls across UK for third year running

The pass rate for GCSE results across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has fallen for the third year running.

It comes after hundreds of thousands of pupils across the country pick up their GCSE, BTec Tech Awards and other Level 2 results this morning.

67.6% of all grades were rated at grade 4/C and above which is considered the pass rate, compared to 68.2% in 2023 and 67.3% in 2019.

Despite the drop in the pass rate, the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: ‘Congratulations to those receiving their GCSE results today – you’ve done an incredible job.

‘I know the power of education and opportunity. My government will make sure everyone’s path is determined by their talent, skills and ambition, not where you come from.’

Around a fifth of entries, 21.8%, were awarded the top grades – at least a 7 or A grade – down on 22% in 2023 but higher than 20.8% recorded in 2019.

The overall rate for grades 1 or G were also down at 97.9%, compared to 98% in 2023 and 98.3% in 2019.

Meanwhile, the overall number of entries for GCSEs has increased by 4.8% on last year.

The attainment gap between those who are privately educated and state educated has also widened.

Nearly half (48.4%) of private school entries scored a grade 7 and above compared to 19.4% of those at comprehensive schools – a gap of 29 percentage points. Last year this gap was 28.2 percentage points.

However the gap between private and comprehensive schools has narrowed compared to 2019 – when it was 29.3 percentage points.

London and the south east remain ahead in terms of top grades, with more than a quarter of entries scoring at least a grade 7 (London 28.5%, South East 24.7%).

The north east has the lowest proportion with 17.8% of entries scoring at least a grade 7.

Leaders in the education sector warned that the cohort has overcome a series of challenges in their secondary schooling in recent years.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said there are ‘significant differences’ in regional outcomes.

He said: ‘This suggests that relative levels of prosperity and socioeconomic disadvantage continue to play a huge part in educational outcomes, and addressing these gaps must be a key priority for the new government working alongside the education sector.

‘We have to do more to support our schools and colleges. Funding and teacher shortages, combined with post-pandemic issues around mental health, behaviour and attendance, have made circumstances particularly challenging.’

England has now replaced the old A* to G grading system and replaced it with a 9-1 system, where 9 is the highest grade.

In the new grading system, a 4 is broadly equivalent to a C grade, while a 7 is equivalent to an A grade.

The traditional A* to G grades are still used in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Results in 2020 and 2021 were based on teacher assessments instead of exams because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pupils who received their GCSE results today were in year 7 when the pandemic hit.

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