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Top GCSE Grades See Slight Rise as Overall Pass Rate Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Top grades rose 0.1 percentage points to 22.0% while the girls-boys gap at the highest level narrowed to 4.8 points, JCQ said.
- On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of pupils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received GCSE grades and technical awards, marking a key milestone for progression to sixth form, college, or training.
- The proportion of GCSE entries achieving a 4 or C grade fell from 67.4% in 2025 to 67.3% this year, as exam regulators returned grading standards to pre-pandemic levels.
- Female students continue to outperform males, with 36.2% of girls achieving top grades compared to 26.8% of boys; the gender gap has narrowed to its smallest point this century.
- Education Secretary Lucy Powell said repeated resits lead to "branding as a failure," announcing a new "stepping stone" level one qualification in maths and English.
- Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, called regional divides a "damning indictment," warning that postcode determines life chances for young people.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
13%
C 75%
12%
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