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| Record top grades in GCSE results | Record top grades in GCSE results |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A record proportion of GCSE entries were awarded the top grades in this year's exams, results show. | A record proportion of GCSE entries were awarded the top grades in this year's exams, results show. |
| More than one in five entries (21.6%) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were awarded an A or A* - a rise of 0.9 percentage points on last year. | More than one in five entries (21.6%) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were awarded an A or A* - a rise of 0.9 percentage points on last year. |
| And more than two in three (67.1%) of total entries scored between an A* and a C grade. | And more than two in three (67.1%) of total entries scored between an A* and a C grade. |
| Nearly one in four entries from girls (24.4%) were awarded an A or A*, compared with 18.7% of boys' entries. | Nearly one in four entries from girls (24.4%) were awarded an A or A*, compared with 18.7% of boys' entries. |
| In 2008 23.5% of girls' entries were awarded As or A*s compared to 17.9% of boys' entries. | In 2008 23.5% of girls' entries were awarded As or A*s compared to 17.9% of boys' entries. |
| This represents a slight widening of the achievement gap between girls and boys at the highest grades. | |
| However, when grades A* to C are taken as a whole, boys slightly narrowed the gap with girls. | |
| I congratulate young people for their achievements today, and we should all take pride in their success. Schools minister Vernon Coaker What if you did not make the grade? | I congratulate young people for their achievements today, and we should all take pride in their success. Schools minister Vernon Coaker What if you did not make the grade? |
| Performance in English fell slightly at grades A* to C, down from 62.9% in 2008, to 62.7% now. | Performance in English fell slightly at grades A* to C, down from 62.9% in 2008, to 62.7% now. |
| But the proportion of entries overall being awarded As and A*s rose by 0.9 percentage points from 20.7% in 2008 to 21.6% this year. | But the proportion of entries overall being awarded As and A*s rose by 0.9 percentage points from 20.7% in 2008 to 21.6% this year. |
| Grades A* to C rose 1.4 percentage points to 67.1%. | Grades A* to C rose 1.4 percentage points to 67.1%. |
| The overall pass rate - those getting from A* to G - increased by 0.2 percentage points to 98.6%. | The overall pass rate - those getting from A* to G - increased by 0.2 percentage points to 98.6%. |
| Languages continued their steady decline, with data from the exam boards showing fewer people taking French (down 6.6%) and German (down 4.2%), but single sciences are gaining in popularity. | Languages continued their steady decline, with data from the exam boards showing fewer people taking French (down 6.6%) and German (down 4.2%), but single sciences are gaining in popularity. |
| Performance across the nations varies with 66.9% of entries from England achieving A* to C grades and 21.5% getting and A or A*. | Performance across the nations varies with 66.9% of entries from England achieving A* to C grades and 21.5% getting and A or A*. |
| In Wales, 65.5% of entries were awarded A* to C and 18.9% were awarded As or A*s. | In Wales, 65.5% of entries were awarded A* to C and 18.9% were awarded As or A*s. |
| Northern Ireland's students are still the best performers, with 75.1% of entries gaining A* to C grades and 27.1% gaining As or A*s. | Northern Ireland's students are still the best performers, with 75.1% of entries gaining A* to C grades and 27.1% gaining As or A*s. |
| End of coursework | End of coursework |
| In maths, overall the A*-C rate is up from 56.3 to 57.2%, with boys A*-C rate rising by 1.8 percentage points to 57.6%. | In maths, overall the A*-C rate is up from 56.3 to 57.2%, with boys A*-C rate rising by 1.8 percentage points to 57.6%. |
| This improvement by boys is being put down to the end of coursework in the subject. | This improvement by boys is being put down to the end of coursework in the subject. |
| Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said this year's GCSE results show sustained progress in standards were the product of hard work. | Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said this year's GCSE results show sustained progress in standards were the product of hard work. |
| "I congratulate young people for their achievements today, and we should all take pride in their success. | "I congratulate young people for their achievements today, and we should all take pride in their success. |
| "The improvements in maths grades are particularly welcome and reflect our sustained focus on getting the basics right. However, it is disappointing to see a slight fall in the English A*-C rate. | "The improvements in maths grades are particularly welcome and reflect our sustained focus on getting the basics right. However, it is disappointing to see a slight fall in the English A*-C rate. |
| National challenge | National challenge |
| "We are not complacent and are targeting our efforts on ensuring that every child performs to their full potential. From next year we are introducing new GCSEs in English, Mathematics and ICT to strengthen their functional skills content." | "We are not complacent and are targeting our efforts on ensuring that every child performs to their full potential. From next year we are introducing new GCSEs in English, Mathematics and ICT to strengthen their functional skills content." |
| General secretary of the National Union of Teachers Christine Blower said the overall picture was one of success. | General secretary of the National Union of Teachers Christine Blower said the overall picture was one of success. |
| She added that the reduction in the take-up of modern languages was a "fundamental concern" and that gap in performance between boys and girls needed further investigation. | She added that the reduction in the take-up of modern languages was a "fundamental concern" and that gap in performance between boys and girls needed further investigation. |
| More than 600,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their GCSE results. They are being released by the Joint Council for Qualifications, which represents the exam boards. | More than 600,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their GCSE results. They are being released by the Joint Council for Qualifications, which represents the exam boards. |
| Results for the first 200 students studying England's new Diploma qualification, designed to mix academic with work-related study, are also being released for the first time. | Results for the first 200 students studying England's new Diploma qualification, designed to mix academic with work-related study, are also being released for the first time. |
| Xavier Gordon-Brown found the maths GCSE "easy" at the age of eight | Xavier Gordon-Brown found the maths GCSE "easy" at the age of eight |
| On the back of the GCSE results, ministers also expect the number of schools targeted for poor performance to fall to 280, from 631 two years ago. | On the back of the GCSE results, ministers also expect the number of schools targeted for poor performance to fall to 280, from 631 two years ago. |
| Schools in England targeted under what is called the "National Challenge" are those where fewer than 30% of pupils achieve five or more good GCSE passes (A* to C) including maths and English. | Schools in England targeted under what is called the "National Challenge" are those where fewer than 30% of pupils achieve five or more good GCSE passes (A* to C) including maths and English. |
| In January, when the league tables for England based on last year's exam results were published, 440 schools were in this category. | In January, when the league tables for England based on last year's exam results were published, 440 schools were in this category. |
| The government says in 1997 the figure was 1,600 - about half of schools - and that now the rate is one in 10. | The government says in 1997 the figure was 1,600 - about half of schools - and that now the rate is one in 10. |
| Those getting their results are among the first to have been educated entirely under a Labour government. | Those getting their results are among the first to have been educated entirely under a Labour government. |
| Students in Scotland received the results of their Standard and Higher grade exams earlier this month. | Students in Scotland received the results of their Standard and Higher grade exams earlier this month. |
| And many pupils in Northern Ireland have already received some of their GCSE results because two thirds of exams taken there were set and marked by the local board, the CCEA. Those results were released last Tuesday. | And many pupils in Northern Ireland have already received some of their GCSE results because two thirds of exams taken there were set and marked by the local board, the CCEA. Those results were released last Tuesday. |
| BBC News wants to hear from students receiving their results. What do you plan to do after you get your results? If you fail to make the grade, do you know what you will do next? | BBC News wants to hear from students receiving their results. What do you plan to do after you get your results? If you fail to make the grade, do you know what you will do next? |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |