undreds of hundreds fewer prime GCSE grades have been handed out to youngsters this yr following efforts to carry outcomes again right down to pre-pandemic ranges.

Official figures additionally present disparities in outcomes throughout areas reveal {that a} vital proportion of pupils face resitting key English and maths exams after failing to attain a “standard” move.

Many of the scholars who acquired their GCSE outcomes on Thursday have been in Year 8 when colleges closed because of coronavirus.

Around 203,000 fewer prime GCSE grades have been awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland than final yr.

But 142,000 extra prime grades have been awarded this summer season than in 2019.

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

More than a fifth (22.0%) of UK GCSE entries have been awarded the highest grades – no less than a 7 or an A grade – this yr, down by 4.3 share factors on final yr when 26.3% of entries achieved the highest grades.

But this was nonetheless larger than in 2019 when 20.8% of entries have been awarded the highest grades.

Ministers confronted calls to deal with regional disparities after the hole in prime GCSE grades between London and the North East widened.

Overall, 28.4% of GCSE entries in London have been awarded a grade 7 or above, in contrast with 17.6% within the North East – a spot of 10.8 share factors. Last yr, the hole was 10.2 share factors.

The proportion of UK GCSE entries getting no less than a 4 or a C grade – thought of a “standard pass” – dropped from 73.2% in 2022 to 68.2% this yr, however it was larger than in 2019 (67.3%).

In England, many college students who don't safe no less than a grade 4 in English and/or maths at GCSE are required to retake the topics throughout post-16 schooling.

A PA news company evaluation of figures by Ofqual reveals that it's doubtless that nearly 22,000 extra 16-year-olds in England didn't attain this customary in maths this yr in comparison with final yr.

In English, it's doubtless that over 38,000 extra 16-year-olds in England this summer season didn't safe a grade 4 or above in comparison with 2022.

Headteachers’ unions have known as on the Government to reform the system to make sure many college students should not caught in a “demoralising” cycle of retakes.

But talking as college students acquired their GCSE outcomes on Thursday, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stated folks “do a lot better over their lifetime” in the event that they safe maths and English {qualifications}.

The hole in prime grades between non-public colleges and complete colleges in England remained massive (27.5 share factors), however it narrowed on final yr.

Some 46.6% of GCSE entries at non-public colleges in England have been awarded grades 7 or above this yr, down from 53.1% in 2022. In complete colleges, the determine was 19.1%, down from 23.2% final yr.

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

Ofqual constructed safety into the grading course of to make sure a pupil acquired the grade they'd have acquired earlier than the pandemic even when their high quality of labor was a bit of weaker this yr.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, outcomes are anticipated to return to pre-pandemic ranges subsequent yr.

In Wales, 21.7% of entries have been awarded an A grade or above, in comparison with 18.4% in 2019, and in Northern Ireland 34.5% of entries have been awarded the highest grades, in comparison with 30.5%.

In England, 21.6% of entries have been awarded a grade 7 or above, in comparison with 20.7% in 2019.

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

Some 1,160 16-year-olds in England taking no less than seven GCSEs achieved a grade 9 in all their topics, in contrast with 2,193 final yr and 837 in 2019.

In phrases of grading, this has been the second step within the two-step plan to get again to regular. So so far as Ofqual is worried, we're now again to regular

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.

Many college students in Wales and Northern Ireland got advance details about matters to count on of their examination papers this summer season, however pupils in England weren't given the identical help.

In England this yr, pupils got formulae and equation sheets in GCSE arithmetic, physics, and mixed science exams in acknowledgement of pandemic disruption to studying.

Jo Saxton, chief regulator of Ofqual, stated the choice on whether or not to proceed to supply examination aids to GCSE pupils in England in some topics subsequent summer season would fall with the Department for Education (DfE).

She informed the PA news company: “They know they need to confirm their position about next year. We’ve agreed that’s very much in DfE’s space because it’s about curriculum. Whatever decision they make, we enable it to happen.”

Dr Saxton added: “In terms of grading, this has been the second step in the two-step plan to get back to normal. So as far as Ofqual is concerned, we’re now back to normal.”

Earlier this month, colleges minister Nick Gibb stated there was an “expectation” that examination aids wouldn't be supplied to GCSE college students subsequent yr.

Speaking on GCSE outcomes day on Thursday, Mr Gibb acknowledged that progress on closing the attainment hole for deprived pupils had “been undone” through the pandemic.

He informed 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.

The schools minister has confirmed that Conservative promises to level up education are dead and buried

“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.”

Shadow schooling secretary Bridget Phillipson stated: “The schools minister has confirmed that Conservative promises to level up education are dead and buried.”

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