Hazel Shearing

GCSE pass rates across England, Wales and Northern Ireland were virtually unchanged at 67.3%, matching the 2019 level. However, rising English and maths resits in England are depressing overall results, with low pass rates among candidates aged 17 and over; a new Level 1 qualification is planned from 2028. The gender gap narrowed to a record low mainly because girls’ grades fell, while the regional gap in England widened, with London outperforming the West Midlands. Computing entries dropped 7.1%, possibly reflecting the emergence of AI, although exam leaders argue that computer science remains increasingly important.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received GCSE, BTEC and other Level 2 results, with 67.3% of GCSE grades awarded at 4/C or above across the three nations, broadly unchanged from last year. More than 750 English schools are offering students access to results through the Education Record app alongside traditional paper envelopes. The government plans to expand technical education, including manufacturing and artificial intelligence subjects, and introduce a foundation qualification to support students who struggle with English and maths GCSE resits. Nearly a quarter of English English and maths GCSE entries were from students aged 17 or over. Results also show widening regional disparities, with London outperforming the West Midlands and disadvantaged pupils in South West England recording lower attainment than comparable pupils in London.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received A-level, T-level and BTEC results, with the proportion achieving A* or A grades rising slightly to 28.5% across the three nations. Nearly 20,000 students completed T-levels, recording a pass rate above 90%, while university applications remained broadly stable despite concerns about student debt and the cost of higher education. Universities UK and UCAS defended university study while supporting greater parity with technical education. The results come amid reforms to vocational qualifications, rising tuition fees, financial pressures on universities and efforts to restore grading patterns to pre-pandemic levels.

Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received A-level, T-level and BTEC results, with the share of A* and A grades rising slightly to 28.5%. Nearly 20,000 students completed T-levels, achieving a pass rate above 90%, while university applications remained broadly stable despite concerns over tuition costs, student debt and university finances. Universities UK and UCAS urged students not to be deterred by political criticism of higher education, as the government promotes greater parity between academic and technical routes. The results also reflect efforts to return grading to pre-pandemic patterns, while Ofqual monitors complaints about the difficulty of an A-level maths paper.

More than 120 MPs and peers have urged Chancellor John Healey to urgently review the UK student loan repayment system, warning that high interest, tax rates and frozen repayment thresholds create an unsustainable burden for graduates. The debate focuses on Plan 2 loans, whose repayment threshold is due to remain frozen at £29,385 from 2027 to 2030, causing borrowers to begin repayments earlier and pay more as salaries rise. Campaigners and the Treasury Select Committee want the freeze reversed, while the Department for Education acknowledges that the inherited system is unfair and is considering its response to the committee’s recommendations.