he proportion of GCSE entries awarded high grades has fallen from final yr however is increased than earlier than the Covid-19 pandemic, nationwide figures present.

Hundreds of hundreds of youngsters throughout the nation acquired their GCSE examination outcomes on Thursday in a yr when efforts have been made in England to return grading to pre-pandemic ranges.

More than a fifth (22.0%) of UK GCSE entries have been awarded the highest grades – a minimum of a 7 or an A grade – this yr, down by 4.3 proportion factors on final yr when 26.3% of entries achieved the highest grades.

However, this stays increased than the equal determine for 2019 – earlier than the pandemic – of 20.8%.

An monumental quantity of laborious work has gone into these {qualifications} in typically troublesome circumstances and the younger individuals receiving their outcomes right this moment deserve nice credit score for what they've achieved

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The figures, revealed by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cowl GCSE entries from college students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Overall, there have been round 203,000 fewer high grades (7/A) in contrast with final yr, however there have been 142,000 extra high grades awarded this yr than in 2019.

The proportion of entries getting a minimum of a 4 or a C grade – thought-about a “standard pass” – has fallen from 73.2% in 2022 to 68.2% this yr – a drop of 5 proportion factors, however increased than 67.3% in 2019.

The general fee for grades 1/G or above is 98%, down from 98.4% in 2022 and 98.3% in 2019.

In England, exams regulator Ofqual stated this yr’s GCSE outcomes could be decrease than final yr and they might be just like these in 2019.

But Ofqual has constructed safety into the grading course of which ought to allow a pupil to get the grade they might have acquired earlier than the pandemic even when their high quality of labor is just a little weaker this yr.

It comes after Covid-19 led to a rise in high grades in 2020 and 2021, with outcomes based mostly on instructor assessments as a substitute of exams.

Last week, the proportion of A-level entries reaching high grades fell – with some 73,000 fewer high A-level grades than final yr – however it remained above pre-pandemic ranges.

Girls continued their lead over boys for the highest GCSE grades, with 24.9% of entries awarded 7/A or above in contrast with 19.1% for males – a niche of 5.8 proportion factors.

But the hole has narrowed from final yr when women have been forward of boys by 7.4 proportion factors (30.0% women, 22.6% boys) and from 2019 when women led by 6.5 proportion factors.

It is the narrowest lead loved by women at 7/A since 2009.

The gender hole has additionally narrowed for entries reaching a grade 4 or above.

We did obtain a 9% closing of that hole for secondary and we closed the hole by 13% for main, however that has been undone, as you say, by Covid, and now we have to get again to normality

According to figures from Ofqual, the variety of 16-year-old college students in England who acquired a 9 – the very best grade below the numerical grading system – in all their topics has almost halved from final yr.

Some 1,150 16-year-olds in England taking a minimum of seven GCSEs achieved a grade 9 in all their topics, in contrast with 2,193 final yr and 837 in 2019.

While conventional A*-G grades are utilized in Northern Ireland and Wales, in England these have been changed with a 9-1 system, the place 9 is the very best.

A 4 is broadly equal to a C grade, and a 7 is broadly equal to an A.

Business research has seen the largest leap in entries amongst main topics this yr – up 14.8% on final yr – whereas Spanish entries have elevated by 11.3% in contrast with 2022.

More than 390,000 certificates have been awarded to college students for Level 2 vocational and technical {qualifications} (VTQs) taken in colleges and schools alongside, or as a substitute, to GCSEs.

Geoff Barton, normal secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), stated: “An enormous amount of hard work has gone into these qualifications in often difficult circumstances and the young people receiving their results today deserve great credit for what they have achieved.”

He added: “We would caution against direct comparisons between this year’s grades and those in 2019 because of the disproportionate impact of the pandemic and subsequent cost-of-living crisis on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 2023 results show that students are well equipped to continue their educational journey

“It is likely that the outcomes for many of these young people will be affected by these factors and this may also impact on the results of schools which serve disadvantaged communities.

“The Government has failed to grasp the gravity of this issue. It did not invest sufficiently in education recovery from the pandemic – causing its own recovery commissioner to resign in protest – and it has failed to address the high level of child poverty in the UK. We are concerned that this will lead to a widening of the attainment gap between rich and poor.”

Schools minister Nick Gibb acknowledged that progress on closing the attainment hole for deprived pupils had “been undone” throughout the pandemic.

He advised BBC Breakfast: “We did achieve a 9% closing of that gap for secondary and we closed the gap by 13% for primary, but that has been undone, as you say, by Covid, and now we need to get back to normality.

“We’ve got the recovery programme happening in our schools right now. And then we need to get back to the reform programme to make sure that we can continue to close that gap.”

Margaret Farragher, chief government of the JCQ, stated: “This year’s results recognise the fantastic achievements of students across the country. They have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic period to achieve these well-earned grades.

“The 2023 results show that students are well equipped to continue their educational journey.”

In Scotland, the nationwide outcomes for the National 5 {qualifications} have been revealed earlier within the month and confirmed that the cross fee was 78.8% – down from 80.8% final yr, however up from 78.2% in 2019.