Best GCSE results since 1996
GCSE results have improved at every grade level for the first time in nine years.
The overall picture is the best since 1996, with pass rates up from 97.6 per cent in 2004 to 97.8 per cent. But examination entry numbers were down 2.4 per cent to 5.74 million.
Schools minister Jacqui Smith welcomed the results, saying they represented “further evidence of rising standards”.
But concern has been raised about the decline in pupils taking up modern languages.
And business leaders say schools are not giving students adequate skills in basic literacy and numeracy.
The number of pupils gaining top grades rose, with those receiving A* or A grades up by one percentage point to 18.4 per cent.
And 61.2 per cent of entrants received A* to C grades, a two percentage point increase over last year, and the best annual improvement since 1992.
Results improved for other qualifications as well: the pass rate for Applied GCSEs rose to 93.1 per cent, and for the soon-to-be-axed Vocational GNVQs to 79 per cent.
But education bodies say too few students are opting for languages at GCSE.
“The strong performance at grades A* to C is to be welcomed overall but the improvement in part reflects the decline in modern foreign language entries”, Ellie Johnson Searle, director of the Joint Council for General Qualifications warned.
And the Secondary Head’s Association called for an “urgent review” of the government’s languages policy.
Business leaders have voiced concern at the lack of basic workplace skills possessed by school leavers – particularly in maths and English.
Richard Wilson, head of business policy at the the Institute of Directors (IoD) said: “The starting point for employers recruiting staff is surely to have access to candidates with basic literacy and numeracy skills. We are not there yet.”
But Ms Smith said the results were cause for celebration, and “further evidence of rising standards in our education system”
She said progress has been made in the “core subjects” of English and maths, which she described as “the bedrock of every child’s education”.
