GCSE results reveal decline in top grades
The proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has risen again this year, but top grades have fallen for the fourth year in a row, official figures show.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In total, almost seven in 10 entries were awarded A- C, up 0.2 percentage points on 2014. But there was a 0.1 percentage point drop in A grades, the fourth year running that there has been a fall.
Maths was the most popular subject again this year, up 3.4% on last year. English also saw an improvement in results, with 65.4% of entries gaining at least a C grade, following a drop last summer.
The national figures also show that the gender gap has narrowed slightly, with 73.1% of girls' entries awarded at least a C grade, compared to 64.7% of boys'.
JCQ Director General Michael Turner said: “At a national level there is very little change in this year's results but we do see educational policies continuing to have an effect on entry patterns and results at a subject level. This is particularly the case in English, Mathematics and the Sciences.''
A total of 5,429,478 GCSE results have been issued today to eager students across the country.
Previously, a Santander survey which aimed at gauging young people’s career attitudes and expectations suggest some students may have unrealistic salary goals, expecting to make £89,000 a year at the peak of their career.
However, Ian Kerr from Manchester based the Skills Company has urged young people not to panic as regardless of grades there are lots of options available.