The proportion of top grades at GCSE dropped from record highs during the pandemic after a return to examinations for the first time in three years.
Results awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland revealed that GCSEs marked Grade 7 or above – equivalent to the former A and A* – were down by 2.6 percentage points on last year’s record results. The level was lower than the 28.9 per cent of students who achieved top grades in 2021, when results were based on teacher assessments while exams were halted during the pandemic, but higher than the 20.6 per cent who achieved top marks in 2019.
The proportion of students who attained standard passes in their GCSEs also dropped this year, with 73.2 per cent of pupils achieving Grade 4 or above – equivalent to the former C – compared to 77.1 per cent last year.
However, top grades fell by only 2.6 percentage points this year despite a government pledge to clamp down on inflation.
Private schools in England accused of ‘gaming the system’ on lockdown exam results
According to a report published in The Guardian, dramatic drops in top GCSE and A-level results in England’s private schools this summer have led to accusations that they “gamed” the system last year when teachers awarded grades.
Official figures show the proportion of GCSEs graded 7 to 9 in private schools fell from 61.2% last year to 53% this year when pupils had to sit exams – an 8.2 percentage point drop.
The difference was three times greater than that of comprehensives, which saw a 2.7 percentage point decline, from 26% last year to 23.3% this year.
The pattern was repeated with A-levels, where private schools saw a more dramatic fall in A*/A grades than other types of schools following the reintroduction of public examinations after three years. The proportion of A*/A entries at private schools fell from 70% in 2021 to 58% this summer. Across grammar schools, A*/A grades dropped from 57% to 50%.
At some private secondaries and sixth-form colleges, where as many as 90% of results were given A*s by teachers last summer, the grade level crashed by 25-30 percentage points.
One analysis of A-level results by Education Datalab concluded that the claim that private schools “fiddled” results was “a little harsh”. It said that, while the absolute difference in percentages of A*/A grades in 2022 compared to 2021 showed one of the greatest declines across independent schools in relative terms, privately educated students were around 20% more likely to receive an A/A* grade in 2021 than in 2022, but the same was true for pupils at academies, comprehensive schools and secondary moderns.
Anger over the north-south divide as the proportion of top grades and pass rate fall
Henri Murison, the chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, which speaks for business and civic leaders across the north, said:
Once again, we’re seeing evidence of gaping regional disparities in today’s GCSE results, particularly between the north and London in grade 7 and above results.
Sadly, this is not all that surprising when we consider the triple whammy of factors that will have had an impact on this attainment gap – existing long-term disadvantage, learning loss during Covid and DfE failures in catch up and the national tutoring programme – all of which affect the north of England disproportionately.
Our young people cannot go on paying the price for Department for Education failure, nor can our economy. As they consider study in the future, the most competitive routes such as future university entry or degree and wider apprenticeships have young people competing from across the UK.
Northern kids will be at a disadvantage in those processes as a result of the failings of the current government, and cutting Opportunity Areas is a recipe for them to make it worse in years to come – not better.
John Lyon pupils achieve superb GCSE results to progress to sixth form
John Lyon pupils have once again been rewarded for their work with tremendous GCSE results, enabling them to take up their places in our Sixth Form.
The exceptional results come among a myriad of pursuits beyond the classroom. It is no surprise that our pupils, who are involved in any number of sporting, artistic, dramatic and musical activities, continue to excel in their examinations. Their grades are a testament to our belief that busy pupils are happy students, who thrive across the board.
Avi, who achieved straight nine 9s, is a county cricketer and second highest 1st XI run scorer in 2022 (average of 55, comprising four half-centuries and an unbeaten century) and will be receiving a John Lyon Scholarship Award.
Avi said: “I am extremely happy as I have worked so hard. It’s a great feeling when the effort you have put in has paid off. My teachers and parents have really helped me. Throughout the winter, my coaches supported me with my preparations and enabled me to perform at my best over the summer cricket season. To achieve these results and play my favourite sport at the same time is amazing. I want to continue to excel in my subjects on and off the field as I look forward to my sixth form studies at John Lyon.”
Kassem secured eight 9s, one 8 and one 7, with an additional A* in HPQ (Higher Project Qualification). Outside of the classroom, Kassem is a keen musician. With grade 8 in classical guitar, he is currently the School’s Young Musician of the Year.
Kassem said: “I am delighted to see my results and I am really glad that I achieved all 9s in the three A-Level subjects I will be studying: Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I would like to thank my parents for being very supportive and my teachers for helping me to get where I am today. The extracurricular activities have helped supplement my academic achievements.”
Shaan, who holds a black belt in karate, was awarded three 9s, five 8s and one 7, with an A in HPQ.
Shaan said: “I’m thrilled with my results. It’s nice to see that the hard work has paid off. I would like to thank my teachers for helping me achieve these results and my family for their continuous support.”
Note: If your child has fared well in their GCSE or A-level results, do write to us at [email protected] with a few lines, proof of result and a photograph. We will be happy to publish it free of cost in the next two weeks.
