Another week, another day of results. Our congratulations to students and teachers on the Level 2 qualifications, including GCSE, BTec Tech Awards, on the years of hard work leading up to today. We wish everyone luck with their next steps. 

As you will be aware, the approach to grading returned to pre-pandemic arrangements in England last year, and this year Northern Ireland and Wales completed their transition to pre-pandemic arrangements. The whole of the UK has now returned to pre-pandemic approaches to grading and GCSE results reflect this.

Main points highlighted in the media 

• The pass rate across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has fallen for a third year running – with 67.6% of all grades at 4/C and above
• This year the proportion of GCSEs marked at 4/C and above is:
  •  67.4% in England, down from 67.8% in 2023
  • 61.7% in Wales, down from 64.5%
  • 82% in Northern Ireland, down from 86.6%
  • Students in Scotland had their results earlier in the month, when pass rates dropped back to pre-Covid levels or below
• GCSE entries up 4.8% to 6,186,879 compared with 5,905,000 in 2023.
• The 16-year-old population increased by 4.6%. Most entries for GCSE subjects were from 16-year-olds, totalling 91.4% of all entries, which is down 0.7 percentage points (pp) from 2023. 
• Slight reduction in the difference between male and female results, eg at 7/A the difference between female and male results has reduced 0.2pp compared with 2023 (2024 7/A, female 25.6% / male 19.8%).  
• Regional differences across England still present in gradings, with % of 7/A and above largely unchanged by region, with over 10% difference between London ( 28.5%)  and NE England (17.8%).

ASE's Director of Policy and Curriculum Innovation, Marianne Cutler commented:

‘It is disappointing, but not surprising, to note that regional differences – broadly reflecting the proportions of long-term disadvantaged children by region - that existed before Covid still persist. Moreover, four out of five regions in the North and Midlands have lower pass rates this year than in 2019, whereas all regions in the South of England have higher pass rates.
The government is rightly focusing on ‘breaking down the barriers to opportunity for every child and young person, at every stage’ and its encouraging to hear Schools Minister, Catherine McKinnell, reiterating this today. ASE is committed to playing our part and is currently offering our Included: Primary CPD Programme drawing on our experience through the Inclusion in Schools and Inclusion in Science programmes.’ 

Science subjects

Science Double Award had the highest number of entries of all GCSE subjects (no change from previous year) – up 4.8% on 2023 and 16.9% since 2019. Entry numbers as follows:

• Science Double Award 980,786 (up 4.8% on 2023, and +16.9% since 2019)
• Biology 194,925 (up 1.9% on 2023, and +9.8% since 2019)
• Chemistry 185,274 (up 0.7% on 2023, and +9.0% since 2019)
• Physics 185,035 (up 1.2% on 2023 and 9.9% since 2019)
• Science 8746 (NI/Wales only, up 10.3% on 2023 and 30% since 2019)
• Mathematics 878,165 (up 6.9% on 2023, and +12.8% since 2019)