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GCSE results show significant decline | |
(35 minutes later) | |
This year's GCSE results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have shown a significant fall. | |
The proportion of entries achieving A* to C has declined by 2.1% points to 66.9%. Top A* grades have slipped by 0.1% points to 6.5%. | |
This has been blamed on more pupils in England re-taking English and maths. | |
Michael Turner of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said there had been "significant movement in this year's entries, which impacts on results". | |
The results of more than five million GCSE entries are being revealed on Thursday. | |
This year's figures show a fall in both the overall pass rate and the proportion of top A* and A grades. | |
This has been attributed to a government plan in England to encourage more pupils to get A* -C grade GCSEs in maths and English, which required re-sits for tens of thousands who missed these grades last year. | |
There were more than 380,000 GCSE entries among these older pupils, re-taking English and maths after Year 11, up by a quarter on last year. | |
Even without these older pupils re-sitting exams, there has been a fall in the results of 16 year olds, with the proportion getting A* to C declining by 1.3% points. | |
This year's results were down for maths, English, history and geography. | |
While the overall results were downwards, in Northern Ireland the proportion of passes increased slightly to 79.1% and top A* grades rose to 9.3%. | |
In Wales, the level of A* to C passes remained at 66.6%, with A* grades rising slightly to 6.1%. | |
There has been a continuing reduction in the number of pupils taking GCSEs a year early, down by about a quarter compared with last year. | |
League tables now only count the first time a pupil sits an exam, discouraging entries by younger pupils. | League tables now only count the first time a pupil sits an exam, discouraging entries by younger pupils. |
This will be the last year before the start of a major change in how GCSEs are graded in England and how school performance is measured. | This will be the last year before the start of a major change in how GCSEs are graded in England and how school performance is measured. |
A revised set of GCSE exams are going to graded by numbers - from 9 down to 1 - rather than A* to E in a process that will be phased in from next year. | A revised set of GCSE exams are going to graded by numbers - from 9 down to 1 - rather than A* to E in a process that will be phased in from next year. |
In addition, a new way of assessing schools in England, to be introduced later this year, will measure how much progress pupils make in secondary schools, rather than their raw results. | In addition, a new way of assessing schools in England, to be introduced later this year, will measure how much progress pupils make in secondary schools, rather than their raw results. |
Speaking ahead of the results, Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, said: "This apparently minor change masks the most substantial reform in a quarter of a century to the key general qualification offered to learners in England." | Speaking ahead of the results, Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, said: "This apparently minor change masks the most substantial reform in a quarter of a century to the key general qualification offered to learners in England." |
Are you awaiting GCSE results? Do you have questions for a GCSE results expert? Share your comments and questions via haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you awaiting GCSE results? Do you have questions for a GCSE results expert? Share your comments and questions via haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |