GCSE results day 2014: Mixed picture as schools recover from exam reforms
There were wide variations in subjects, with English suffering the biggest drop in top grade passes in the 25-year history of the exam
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Top grade passes for teenagers taking their GCSE exams this summer went up for the first time in three years, results showed today.
Figures for the 600,000 candidates taking the exams showed the percentage of top grade A*to C grade passes went up from 68.1 per cent to 68.8 per cent.
However, they masked a mixed picture for the exam in a year which has seen massive changes as a result of former Education Secretary Michael Gove's exam reforms.
The overall A* to G pass rate went down from 98.80 per cent to 98.5 per cent, and the percentage of A* grades from 6.8 per cent to 6.7 per cent.
There were wide variations in subjects, with English suffering the biggest drop in top grade passes in the 25-year history of the exam: the percentage of A* to C grade passes falling from 63.6 per cent to 61.7 per cent.
The subject has been dogged by controversy since marking problems two years ago when the grade boundaries were raised between January and June sittings.
The numbers jumping ship were swelled again this year as a result of the speaking and listening test no longer counting towards the final grade. This test had helped many schools to increase the number of C grade passes to boost their league table ranking.
English literature fell, too, with 76.3 per cent gaining top grade A* to C grade passes compared with 76.8 per cent last year.
However, in maths the picture was rosy with 62.4 per cent gaining A* to C passes compared with 57.6 per cent last year, meaning that the pass rate has overtaken English for the first time ever.
Experts were warning today of extreme "volativity" in individual school results with some going up and others going down.
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said those that had "gamed" the system - mostly struggling schools in deprived areas - were in for a "sharp shock".
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments