Cumberland’s disadvantaged pupils achieve improved results in GCSEs
The long wait was over this morning for students
After the many months of revision and preparation, the wait was over this morning for students across Cumberland as they received their GCSE results.
Cumberland’s results reflect the national picture, with a slight fall in passes at grade 4 and above as the results are brought back in line with pre-pandemic levels. However, for disadvantaged pupils there are positive signs with early results showing an improvement in good passes in English year on year.
The proportion of children achieving passes in English at grade 4 and above has fallen for all pupils (down from 72% to 70%) but increased for disadvantaged pupils (up from 49% to 52%).
For maths at grade 4+, there has also been a fall (down from 68% in 2023 to 66% this year for all pupils), although the figure for disadvantaged pupils was largely unchanged (45% in 2023 and 44% in 2024).
The proportion of pupils achieving higher grades (grades 5-9 and 7-9) increased notably for disadvantaged pupils. For English, the proportion achieving grades 5-9 increased by +0.5 percentage points for all pupils (to 54.0%) and increased by +5.7 percentage points for disadvantaged pupils.
For maths at 5+, the proportion of all pupils achieving the higher grades is down on last year (by -2.0 percentage points) and the proportion of disadvantaged pupils is up substantially, from 25.2% to 32.9%.
Results are subject to change as they enter a period of validation, with the final collective performance of Cumberland students available later this year.
"Thank you to everyone who supported our students"
Cllr Elaine Lynch, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Development, said:
“Congratulations to all the students across Cumberland who have received results today.
“Results day can bring a mix of celebration, excitement, and varied emotions. Whatever your results today I want to congratulate you on all your hard work up to this point, and I wish you all the very best as you move towards your future through further education or employment.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported our students as they worked towards these exams and beyond. So, a special thank you to the headteachers, teachers and teaching assistants, parents and carers.”
If you're unhappy with your GCSE grade, you should first talk to your school or college. If you still think you've been unfairly graded after a review, you can ask your school or college to appeal.
If you’re unsure about what to do next, parents, carers or pupils can contact the National Careers Service Exam Results Helpline on 0800 100 900 from 8am to 8pm Monday-Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and bank holidays (Closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day).