This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-45282518
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| GCSE results rise despite tougher exams | GCSE results rise despite tougher exams |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have risen this year - despite an overhaul to make them more demanding. | GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have risen this year - despite an overhaul to make them more demanding. |
| The proportion reaching the pass levels - the new grade 4 in England and grade C in Wales and Northern Ireland - is up by 0.5% to 66.9%. | The proportion reaching the pass levels - the new grade 4 in England and grade C in Wales and Northern Ireland - is up by 0.5% to 66.9%. |
| For the first time most of the GCSEs in England are being graded from 9 to 1. | For the first time most of the GCSEs in England are being graded from 9 to 1. |
| About 4% of entries received the top grade 9 - and 732 pupils scored a clean sweep of grade 9s in all subjects. | About 4% of entries received the top grade 9 - and 732 pupils scored a clean sweep of grade 9s in all subjects. |
| Girls continued to do better than boys - in terms of both the highest grades and in the pass rate. But the gender gap has narrowed this year with boys catching up. | Girls continued to do better than boys - in terms of both the highest grades and in the pass rate. But the gender gap has narrowed this year with boys catching up. |
| In total, 17.2% of boys' entries scored an A or a 7, up from 16.4% last year, while girls' remained static at 23.7%. | |
| About 90% of entries in England this year were in the more tougher form of GCSE, with more difficult content and mostly marked on final exams, rather than coursework. | About 90% of entries in England this year were in the more tougher form of GCSE, with more difficult content and mostly marked on final exams, rather than coursework. |
| International standards | International standards |
| The intention is to pitch the exams at the standard of the highest-achieving countries in education, such as Singapore and Finland. | The intention is to pitch the exams at the standard of the highest-achieving countries in education, such as Singapore and Finland. |
| Pupils in Wales and Northern Ireland continue to get their results graded from A* to G. | Pupils in Wales and Northern Ireland continue to get their results graded from A* to G. |
| A total of 20 of the most popular GCSE subjects in England have been graded for the first time in the numerical format - plus English and maths, which were introduced in the new format last year. | A total of 20 of the most popular GCSE subjects in England have been graded for the first time in the numerical format - plus English and maths, which were introduced in the new format last year. |
| These include history, geography, sciences and modern languages, all of which have been designed to be more difficult. | These include history, geography, sciences and modern languages, all of which have been designed to be more difficult. |
| Of those achieving all grade 9s - and taking at least seven of the new GCSEs - almost two-thirds were girls. There were only 732 such pupils out of more than half a million candidates. | Of those achieving all grade 9s - and taking at least seven of the new GCSEs - almost two-thirds were girls. There were only 732 such pupils out of more than half a million candidates. |
| Despite the changes, exam regulators have wanted to maintain stability with previous years, and prevent a "guinea pig" cohort from being disadvantaged. | Despite the changes, exam regulators have wanted to maintain stability with previous years, and prevent a "guinea pig" cohort from being disadvantaged. |
| This means that the overall pass rate - combining more than five million entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - has stayed broadly similar, up by 0.5 percentage point to 66.9% compared with last year. | This means that the overall pass rate - combining more than five million entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - has stayed broadly similar, up by 0.5 percentage point to 66.9% compared with last year. |
| The proportion getting the equivalent of an A grade and above - now grades 7, 8 and 9 - has also remained similar, at about 20%. | The proportion getting the equivalent of an A grade and above - now grades 7, 8 and 9 - has also remained similar, at about 20%. |
| 'Excessively difficult' | 'Excessively difficult' |
| This has meant much lower grade boundaries for some subjects. | This has meant much lower grade boundaries for some subjects. |
| For one exam board, the grade 4 pass mark for maths was about 21%, chemistry 26% and biology 27%. | For one exam board, the grade 4 pass mark for maths was about 21%, chemistry 26% and biology 27%. |
| To reach the pass mark in English literature, pupils had to score 42%. | To reach the pass mark in English literature, pupils had to score 42%. |
| Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said that while there would be a focus on the new top grades, there were concerns about whether the new tougher GCSEs would send a "negative message" to lower achieving students. | Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said that while there would be a focus on the new top grades, there were concerns about whether the new tougher GCSEs would send a "negative message" to lower achieving students. |
| He said there was a risk of "losing sight" of the achievements of those working hard and getting lower grades. | He said there was a risk of "losing sight" of the achievements of those working hard and getting lower grades. |
| Kevin Courtney, of the National Education Union, said teachers were "deeply concerned about the pressure and stress these new GCSEs have put on students and school and college staff". | Kevin Courtney, of the National Education Union, said teachers were "deeply concerned about the pressure and stress these new GCSEs have put on students and school and college staff". |
| Sally Collier, head of the exam regulator Ofqual, said: "Students picking up their results today can be confident they have achieved the grades their performances deserve." | Sally Collier, head of the exam regulator Ofqual, said: "Students picking up their results today can be confident they have achieved the grades their performances deserve." |
| School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "Education standards are rising in our schools and pupils have shown their abilities by achieving excellent results today." | School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "Education standards are rising in our schools and pupils have shown their abilities by achieving excellent results today." |
| Have you or your child received GCSE results today? Do you have a question you'd like to put to our experts? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you or your child received GCSE results today? Do you have a question you'd like to put to our experts? Email 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 |