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GCSE results set to be revealed GCSE results show significant decline
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of thousands of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are finding out their GCSE results. This year's GCSE results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have shown a significant fall.
There have been forecasts that this year's results might be lowered by a high number of pupils re-taking exams. 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%.
Government plans in England to encourage more pupils to get GCSEs in maths and English required re-sits for tens of thousands who failed last year. This has been blamed on more pupils in England re-taking English and maths.
Prof Alan Smithers of Buckingham University says this could push down the proportion of top grades this year. 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 this year will be very close to what they were last year, but the increase in people repeating maths and English could lower the top grades slightly," says Prof Smithers, director of Buckingham University's Centre for Education and Employment Research. The results of more than five million GCSE entries are being revealed on Thursday.
There were more than 350,000 GCSE entries among these pupils, re-taking English and maths after Year 11, up by a quarter on last year. This year's figures show a fall in both the overall pass rate and the proportion of top A* and A grades.
Last year, the headline figures showed the proportion of A* to C grades rose to 69%, up from 68.8% last year, but A* grades fell by 0.1 percentage points to 6%. 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.
The results of more than five million GCSE results are set to be issued on Thursday. 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.
As well as more pupils re-taking exams beyond the age of 16, it is expected that there will be a continuing decline in pupils taking exams a year early. 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.
There has also been speculation about whether the overlap between the exam season and the Euro 2016 football tournament will affect results - particularly in Wales.
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.ukAre you awaiting GCSE results? Do you have questions for a GCSE results expert? Share your comments and questions via haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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