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Proportion of students getting good GCSE grades falls after reforms Proportion of students getting good GCSE grades falls after reforms
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The proportion of pupils achieving good GCSE passes in England has fallen this year, amid a blizzard of changes in exams and gradings, including a new nine-point scale in the key subjects of English and maths.The proportion of pupils achieving good GCSE passes in England has fallen this year, amid a blizzard of changes in exams and gradings, including a new nine-point scale in the key subjects of English and maths.
There were weaker results in history, maths and geography than last year, but the picture was complicated by changing patterns of entries and some substantial increases in numbers taking the tests as schools adjusted to the new process.There were weaker results in history, maths and geography than last year, but the picture was complicated by changing patterns of entries and some substantial increases in numbers taking the tests as schools adjusted to the new process.
Overall the proportion of students gaining at least a C, or a 4 under the new system, in England fell slightly, from 66.5% to 66.1%, but representatives of the examination boards said that in many subjects the results of older and younger pupils were affecting the national picture. Overall, the proportion of students gaining at least a C, or a 4 under the new system, in England fell slightly, from 66.5% to 66.1%, but representatives of the examination boards said that in many subjects the results of older and younger pupils were affecting the national picture.
Just 3.5% of students received a top grade 9 in maths, 3.2% in English literature, and 2.2% in English language, under the new numerical grading system for introduced for those subjects. Just 3.5% of students received a top grade 9 in maths, 3.2% in English literature, and 2.2% in English language, under the new numerical grading system introduced for those subjects.
Some 51,000 entrants achieved a 9 grade in either maths, English and English literature, which required a higher mark than the previous top grade of A* according to exam regulator Ofqual. About 51,000 entrants achieved a 9 grade in either maths, English and English literature, which required a higher mark than the previous top grade of A*, according to exam regulator Ofqual.
The number of pupils achieving a hat-trick of top grades amounted to just over 2,000. Last year around 6,000 pupils got A* in all three. The number of pupils achieving a hat-trick of top grades amounted to just over 2,000. Last year about 6,000 pupils got A* in all three.
Nearly two-thirds of the 9 grades were awarded to girls, who did better at English and were close behind boys in gaining top grades in maths.Nearly two-thirds of the 9 grades were awarded to girls, who did better at English and were close behind boys in gaining top grades in maths.
In the reformed subjects sat for the first time this year, there was a steep fall in the numbers attaining good grades in English literature compared with last year, but the results were clearly affected by large inflows of entries.In the reformed subjects sat for the first time this year, there was a steep fall in the numbers attaining good grades in English literature compared with last year, but the results were clearly affected by large inflows of entries.
In English literature, the number taking the exam in England shot up from 370,000 last year to 546,000, but the number achieving the pass grade of 4 or above slumped from 74.5% to less than 72%, while the proportion taking the old A*-A grades fell from 21% to 18.7%.In English literature, the number taking the exam in England shot up from 370,000 last year to 546,000, but the number achieving the pass grade of 4 or above slumped from 74.5% to less than 72%, while the proportion taking the old A*-A grades fell from 21% to 18.7%.
But when the results for 16-year-olds alone in England were taken separately, the results appear more encouraging for the new exams. While only 13.6% of pupils overall attained 7 or above in English language, 16.8% of 16-year-olds got the same result. Nearly 70% of year 11 pupils – the bulk of teenagers taking the exam in England – got a 4 or above, equivalent to the old C grade.But when the results for 16-year-olds alone in England were taken separately, the results appear more encouraging for the new exams. While only 13.6% of pupils overall attained 7 or above in English language, 16.8% of 16-year-olds got the same result. Nearly 70% of year 11 pupils – the bulk of teenagers taking the exam in England – got a 4 or above, equivalent to the old C grade.
The pattern followed in maths, with 16-year-olds doing better than the entrants as a whole: nearly 20% got a 7 or above – similar to A or above – compared with 15.6% nationally. Some 70.7% got 4 or above, compared with 61.5% overall. The pattern followed in maths, with 16-year-olds doing better than the entrants as a whole: nearly 20% got a 7 or above – similar to A or above – compared with 15.6% nationally. About 70.7% got 4 or above, compared with 61.5% overall.
The Joint Council for Qualifications, which releases the national figures on behalf of the exam boards, said a “significant” shift in entry patterns had affected the results, and noted that comparisons between England, Wales and Northern Ireland were increasingly difficult. The Joint Council for Qualifications, which releases the national figures on behalf of the exam boards, said a significant shift in entry patterns had affected the results, and noted that comparisons between England, Wales and Northern Ireland were increasingly difficult.
The changing pattern was caused by schools switching away from other types of exams, especially iGCSEs, and into the new GCSE exam, as well as schools entering more pupils for both English language and English literature because of a boost offered under the government’s league tables.The changing pattern was caused by schools switching away from other types of exams, especially iGCSEs, and into the new GCSE exam, as well as schools entering more pupils for both English language and English literature because of a boost offered under the government’s league tables.
Schools also appear to have been entering pupils for one English exam at the age of 15, while resits in maths and English required of 17-year-olds also complicated the picture.Schools also appear to have been entering pupils for one English exam at the age of 15, while resits in maths and English required of 17-year-olds also complicated the picture.
In England, where the maths exam has been reformed to make it more challenging, girls appear to have been hit harder by the new qualification across all grades with the percentage of those getting 7 or above dropping by almost a whole percentage point, down from 15.6% last year to 14.7% in 2017.In England, where the maths exam has been reformed to make it more challenging, girls appear to have been hit harder by the new qualification across all grades with the percentage of those getting 7 or above dropping by almost a whole percentage point, down from 15.6% last year to 14.7% in 2017.
The new exam appears to have had less impact on boys, with results holding up and even climbing up from 16.4% getting A/7 last year to 16.5% this year. The trend echoes results for reformed A-levels last week, when boys appeared to benefit from the new qualifications which rely mainly on end-of-course exams rather than modular and continuous assessment.The new exam appears to have had less impact on boys, with results holding up and even climbing up from 16.4% getting A/7 last year to 16.5% this year. The trend echoes results for reformed A-levels last week, when boys appeared to benefit from the new qualifications which rely mainly on end-of-course exams rather than modular and continuous assessment.
The same trend appears in the new English literature GCSE, where boys’ performance seems to be less affected by the new tougher exams, down 1.2 percentage points at A/7 from 14.4% to 13.2%. Girls’ results have dropped more significantly at the same level, from 27.2% to 24.2%. There is less of gender factor in English language results, which remain broadly the same as last year’s figures.The same trend appears in the new English literature GCSE, where boys’ performance seems to be less affected by the new tougher exams, down 1.2 percentage points at A/7 from 14.4% to 13.2%. Girls’ results have dropped more significantly at the same level, from 27.2% to 24.2%. There is less of gender factor in English language results, which remain broadly the same as last year’s figures.
Among the exams in England that have yet to be reformed, there were disappointing results in geography and history but a better performance in chemistry and biology.Among the exams in England that have yet to be reformed, there were disappointing results in geography and history but a better performance in chemistry and biology.
A crop of free schools that opened in 2012 received the results of their first full cohort of students. Among those celebrating were pupils at the Reach Academy Feltham, where more than 90% of pupils got good passes in five subjects. Some 80% achieved 5 or above in English, while 9% of pupils got the top 9 grade in maths. A crop of free schools that opened in 2012 received the results of their first full cohort of students. Among those celebrating were pupils at the Reach Academy Feltham, where more than 90% of pupils got good passes in five subjects. About 80% achieved 5 or above in English, while 9% of pupils got the top 9 grade in maths.
“We are thrilled with pupils’ results, and pay tribute to their hard work and to the support of their parents and teachers,” said Rebecca Cramer, the secondary school head.“We are thrilled with pupils’ results, and pay tribute to their hard work and to the support of their parents and teachers,” said Rebecca Cramer, the secondary school head.
Tauheedul Islam Boys high school in Blackburn also saw impressive results, with three out of four pupils getting 5 or above in both English and maths. Tauheedul Islam Boys high school in Blackburn also had impressive results, with three out of four pupils getting 5 or above in both English and maths.
The national figures showed another fall in the numbers sitting modern foreign languages this year, with German down by 12% and French down by 10% compared with last year. Spanish did a little better but still saw 3% fewer take the exam.The national figures showed another fall in the numbers sitting modern foreign languages this year, with German down by 12% and French down by 10% compared with last year. Spanish did a little better but still saw 3% fewer take the exam.
“It is worrying that the number of young people studying languages continues to decline, even after the introduction of the Ebacc,” said Nigel Vincent, lead fellow for languages at the British Academy. “It is worrying that the number of young people studying languages continues to decline, even after the introduction of the Ebacc,” said Nigel Vincent, the lead fellow for languages at the British Academy.
“We must do more to encourage language-learning at all stages of education. In the interconnected and multicultural world in which we live, foreign languages are not an optional extra.”“We must do more to encourage language-learning at all stages of education. In the interconnected and multicultural world in which we live, foreign languages are not an optional extra.”
Sarah Stevens, head of policy at the Russell Group of universities, sought to reassure families that the mixture of grades would not confuse admissions officers when pupils came to apply. Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said: “The government’s new gold-standard GCSEs in English and maths have been benchmarked against the best in the world, raising academic standards for pupils. These reforms represent another step in our drive to raise standards, so that pupils have the knowledge and skills they need to compete in a global workplace.”
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the focus of the new GCSEs was on extending those at the top at the expense of middle- and lower-achieving students.
While interest has focused on the number of students achieving the new grade 9s, Barton said: “God knows what a child getting all grade 3s in the new qualifications is feeling who has sat exactly the same exam as the child who gets grade 9.”
He also raised concerns about the narrowing curriculum offer. “We have once again seen a decline in entries to subjects which are not included in the English baccalaureate. These are very important subjects such as design and technology, drama and music. We agree that a rigorous academic curriculum is essential, but we also believe in curriculum breadth.
“The evidence is clear that the government’s reforms are narrowing the curriculum and we think this is to the detriment of our young people and to the country.”
Sarah Stevens, the head of policy at the Russell Group of universities, sought to reassure families that the mixture of grades would not confuse admissions officers when pupils came to apply.
“Universities have published statements about their requirements under the new grading system and the equivalence between the numerical and alphabetical grading systems,” Stevens said.“Universities have published statements about their requirements under the new grading system and the equivalence between the numerical and alphabetical grading systems,” Stevens said.