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GCSE grades rise, but sharp fall in English GCSE grades rise, but sharp fall in English
(35 minutes later)
There has been a sharp fall in English GCSE grades, but on average across all GCSE subjects this year's results show a slight rise in A* to C grades.There has been a sharp fall in English GCSE grades, but on average across all GCSE subjects this year's results show a slight rise in A* to C grades.
Hundreds of thousands of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been receiving their GCSE results.Hundreds of thousands of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been receiving their GCSE results.
Exam officials revealed that 68.8% of entries scored A*-C, up 0.7 percentage points on last summer.Exam officials revealed that 68.8% of entries scored A*-C, up 0.7 percentage points on last summer.
There have been warnings of "volatility" in results following an overhaul of the exam system.There have been warnings of "volatility" in results following an overhaul of the exam system.
Brian Lightman, head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that below the headline figures there were individuals who would be "victims of the changes".Brian Lightman, head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that below the headline figures there were individuals who would be "victims of the changes".
"There are students who have got shock results," he said."There are students who have got shock results," he said.
Andrew Hall, head of the AQA exam board, said the most significant impact on this year's results has been the big fall in younger pupils taking exams a year early. Changes in the league tables have discouraged schools from such multiple entries. Andrew Hall, head of the AQA exam board, said the most significant impact on this year's results has been the big fall in younger pupils taking exams a year early. Changes in the league tables discouraged schools from such multiple entries.
'Volatility''Volatility'
With fewer young exam candidates, there was a sharp improvement in maths results where the percentage achieving A* to C grades rose by 4.8 percentage points to 62.4%.With fewer young exam candidates, there was a sharp improvement in maths results where the percentage achieving A* to C grades rose by 4.8 percentage points to 62.4%.
This is the first year of results following the switch to a greater emphasis on exams at the end of two years, rather than coursework and modular units.This is the first year of results following the switch to a greater emphasis on exams at the end of two years, rather than coursework and modular units.
The results in English seem to have been most affected, with the number of A*-C grades down 1.9 percentage points to 61.7%. This could also have been influenced by the removal of some teacher assessment in this subject.The results in English seem to have been most affected, with the number of A*-C grades down 1.9 percentage points to 61.7%. This could also have been influenced by the removal of some teacher assessment in this subject.
There is still a significant gender gap in this year's results, with 73.1% of girls' exam entries achieving A* to C compared with 64.3% for boys.There is still a significant gender gap in this year's results, with 73.1% of girls' exam entries achieving A* to C compared with 64.3% for boys.
Exam officials also highlighted a fall in the numbers of entries for biology, chemistry and physics, the first such decline for a decade.Exam officials also highlighted a fall in the numbers of entries for biology, chemistry and physics, the first such decline for a decade.
Michael Turner, director general of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said although the overall results were "relatively stable", individual schools and colleges could see "volatility in their results".Michael Turner, director general of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said although the overall results were "relatively stable", individual schools and colleges could see "volatility in their results".
Glenys Stacey, chief executive of the Ofqual exam regulator, has also warned that changes in the exam system could hit individual schools in different ways.Glenys Stacey, chief executive of the Ofqual exam regulator, has also warned that changes in the exam system could hit individual schools in different ways.
Schools Reform Minister Nick Gibb said changes were necessary to raise standards and to give students an "in-depth understanding". School Reform Minister Nick Gibb welcomed the 40% drop in early exam entries and said the changes were necessary to "correct" a system that had "worked against the best efforts of teachers and the best interests of pupils".
"It will take many years to ensure that we have an education system which is on a par with the best in the world so our young people can compete in what is a very competitive global jobs market," said Mr Gibb. "Pupils and parents can feel increasingly confident that the exam system is now working in their favour - that the GCSEs and subjects they are taking are those most valued by colleges, employers and universities."
Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt highlighted concerns about schools being able to hire staff without formal teaching qualifications.
"It is now the case that some of the pupils who have received their grades today may have higher qualifications than the teachers who will be teaching them at the start of the next school term," claimed Mr Hunt.
Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment at Buckingham University, warned of "shocks in store" for some schools, depending on "how much they relied on gaming the old system".Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment at Buckingham University, warned of "shocks in store" for some schools, depending on "how much they relied on gaming the old system".
Widening gapWidening gap
Another major change this year is the widening gap between the type of GCSEs taken by pupils in England and those in Northern Ireland and Wales.Another major change this year is the widening gap between the type of GCSEs taken by pupils in England and those in Northern Ireland and Wales.
The reforms to GCSE, such as the switch to linear, non-modular courses, have applied only to England. Although the overall GCSE figures include England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the exams are increasingly dissimilar.The reforms to GCSE, such as the switch to linear, non-modular courses, have applied only to England. Although the overall GCSE figures include England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the exams are increasingly dissimilar.
The results this year rose more quickly in Wales than the overall average.
"All of this piecemeal change to GCSE means that is incredibly difficult for schools to forecast what grades students might expect to achieve, or indeed to compare the school's results with previous years," said head teachers' leader Brian Lightman."All of this piecemeal change to GCSE means that is incredibly difficult for schools to forecast what grades students might expect to achieve, or indeed to compare the school's results with previous years," said head teachers' leader Brian Lightman.
"Consequently the statistical trends are becoming less and less meaningful."Consequently the statistical trends are becoming less and less meaningful.
"Young people are not statistics. They are individuals whose life chances depend on these results. They have worked extremely hard for these exams and been conscientiously supported by their teachers. I hope that their results do them justice.""Young people are not statistics. They are individuals whose life chances depend on these results. They have worked extremely hard for these exams and been conscientiously supported by their teachers. I hope that their results do them justice."
Chris Keates, leader of the NASUWT teachers' union, says the results are a "reflection of the hard work put in by pupils and teachers who have been forced to cope with a totally unnecessary upheaval in the GCSE qualification system". Chris Keates, leader of the NASUWT teachers' union, said this year's GCSE exam entrants had to "cope with a raft of rushed through and ill-conceived changes to the qualifications system and so today's results are especially commendable".
There were calls for more stability in the exam system from Nansi Ellis, assistant general secretary of the ATL teachers' union. The National Union of Teachers' leader Christine Blower said that the headline figures "mask underlying issues which will only become clear over time".
"Continual piecemeal and untested tinkering with exams is not in the interests of young people or the economy and needs to end." she said. "We must ensure that changes being made to our qualifications system do not unfairly disadvantage specific groups of students, including those with special educational needs or those from backgrounds of economic disadvantage."
Have you received your GCSE results today? Has your child received their results? Were you shocked by the results? Do you have any questions about what you should do next? Careers expert Julie Taylor from the National Careers Service will answer some of your questions. A selection will be published on the BBC News website. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "GCSE".Have you received your GCSE results today? Has your child received their results? Were you shocked by the results? Do you have any questions about what you should do next? Careers expert Julie Taylor from the National Careers Service will answer some of your questions. A selection will be published on the BBC News website. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "GCSE".