GCSE results: Top marks surge to record high after government’s grading U-turn

The number of GCSE results awarded top grades has reached a record high this year, after a government U-turn meant teacher-estimated grades could be handed out.

Nearly 26 per cent of entries received one of the three highest marks this year, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show.

This is a rise from around 20 per cent last year.

GCSE students have been given the higher of either a teachers’ estimated grade or a moderated grade, after their exams were cancelled due to coronavirus.

On A-levels results day, moderated grades were initially handed out, with nearly 40 per cent being downgraded from original teacher predictions.

However, students can now take their teacher-assessed grades if they are the higher of the two, after the government made a U-turn following a public outcry and protests over A-level results.

This year’s GCSE results day revealed the proportion of entries receiving the top grades – at least a 7 or an A grade – is a record high based on available data following the decision to award grades based on teachers’ assessments, rather than an algorithm.

More than three in four entries were awarded at least a 4 or a C grade in England this summer, which is up 8.9 percentage points on last year when 67.1 per cent achieved the grades, data from Ofqual shows.

Gavin Williamson, the UK education secretary, has said those receiving their GCSE results today should feel “incredibly proud” of what they have achieved “in the face of immense challenge and uncertainty”.

He said: “This is an exciting day and young people now can look forward to taking their next steps, whether that is returning to schools and colleges in September to do A-levels or our brand new T-levels, or taking one of the many other routes available like starting an apprenticeship.”

Colleges have called for more funding from the government to cope with a surge of pupils who will be able to meet entry requirements for sixth form colleges following the algorithm U-turn.

Some colleges are already at maximum capacity and there is a limit to the number of pupils they can admit amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) has said.

However, hundreds of thousands of Btec students are still waiting for their final grades after the exam board told schools and colleges not to release the results to pupils on Thursday, as they will be reassessed following changes to how other qualifications are graded.

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said he is hopeful that students will get their Btec results next week.

Both Mr Gibb and Mr Williamson have apologised to students for any anxiety caused by changes to the grading systems this year.

Additional reporting by Press Association