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27/08/2009
'A' Grades Dominate GCSEs
Twenty percent of students taking GCSEs this year scored an A or A*.
According to results published today, the figure relates to those taking five or more of the examinations in the national examination.
More than 670,000 pupils in England and Wales received their results with both the pass rate and the number of top grades edged up again.
Analysis also shows there was a return to traditional subjects with the number sitting maths, chemistry, biology and physics rising while languages declined for the fourth year in a row.
That is said to havve come about after the Government made languages non-compulsory for GCSE students.
Only 1.4% of students failed GCSEs this year while the numbers sitting English and English literature and scoring a C or better dropped by 0.2 percentage points, prompting concerns that schools are struggling to teach the subject, despite pressure from the government to prioritise it.
Once again, independent schools got far more of the top grades than comprehensives and their results improved fastest, widening the gap between the sectors.
Independent schools were, however, outperformed by students in grammar schools, where 55% of GCSEs scored an A or A*.
The gap between boys and girls also narrowed slightly at A*-C grades, but widened very marginally at A and A* grades.
Entries for physics went up by 21%, chemistry by 20% and biology by 18%. Maths, which has the highest number of entries overall, went up by 2.21%.
French fell by 6.6% and German by 4.2%. There was a 3.6% reduction in the total cohort size of 16-year-olds this year, accounting for some of the dip, but there will be concerns about the decline in the nation's languages skills.
There were small rises in the number entering for other languages, such as Arabic, Bengali and Russian.
Commenting, Mike Cresswell, Chief Executive of the exam board AQA, said for the first time since 1997 boys did better at all grades in maths.
He said it was probably down to the removal of coursework from the maths GCSE, as boys often thrive in exams compared with girls.
Overall the narrowing of the gap at grades A* to C, was a "pretty convincing reduction" since 1997, he said. "In terms of that critical grade C pass, the boys have been over that historic period catching up with the girls."
The rise in maths entries was down to increasing numbers of students taking it early at 15, suggesting that talented pupils are being entered earlier but also that schools are attempting to "bank" GCSE results early in order to focus on other subjects.
John Bangs, Head of Education at the National Union of Teachers, congratulated students' efforts, but added: "There has been a massive decrease in modern foreign languages, particularly French and German, which is shocking.
"It's a mistaken cross-party view that they are not essential, which is precisely the opposite of the needs and demands of England in a global economy."
(BMcC/GK)
According to results published today, the figure relates to those taking five or more of the examinations in the national examination.
More than 670,000 pupils in England and Wales received their results with both the pass rate and the number of top grades edged up again.
Analysis also shows there was a return to traditional subjects with the number sitting maths, chemistry, biology and physics rising while languages declined for the fourth year in a row.
That is said to havve come about after the Government made languages non-compulsory for GCSE students.
Only 1.4% of students failed GCSEs this year while the numbers sitting English and English literature and scoring a C or better dropped by 0.2 percentage points, prompting concerns that schools are struggling to teach the subject, despite pressure from the government to prioritise it.
Once again, independent schools got far more of the top grades than comprehensives and their results improved fastest, widening the gap between the sectors.
Independent schools were, however, outperformed by students in grammar schools, where 55% of GCSEs scored an A or A*.
The gap between boys and girls also narrowed slightly at A*-C grades, but widened very marginally at A and A* grades.
Entries for physics went up by 21%, chemistry by 20% and biology by 18%. Maths, which has the highest number of entries overall, went up by 2.21%.
French fell by 6.6% and German by 4.2%. There was a 3.6% reduction in the total cohort size of 16-year-olds this year, accounting for some of the dip, but there will be concerns about the decline in the nation's languages skills.
There were small rises in the number entering for other languages, such as Arabic, Bengali and Russian.
Commenting, Mike Cresswell, Chief Executive of the exam board AQA, said for the first time since 1997 boys did better at all grades in maths.
He said it was probably down to the removal of coursework from the maths GCSE, as boys often thrive in exams compared with girls.
Overall the narrowing of the gap at grades A* to C, was a "pretty convincing reduction" since 1997, he said. "In terms of that critical grade C pass, the boys have been over that historic period catching up with the girls."
The rise in maths entries was down to increasing numbers of students taking it early at 15, suggesting that talented pupils are being entered earlier but also that schools are attempting to "bank" GCSE results early in order to focus on other subjects.
John Bangs, Head of Education at the National Union of Teachers, congratulated students' efforts, but added: "There has been a massive decrease in modern foreign languages, particularly French and German, which is shocking.
"It's a mistaken cross-party view that they are not essential, which is precisely the opposite of the needs and demands of England in a global economy."
(BMcC/GK)
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26 August 2004
GCSE pupils net biggest rise in top grades for five years
Pupil achievement at GCSE level has risen again, after results published today revealed the biggest rise in top grades since 1999. The results show that A* to C grades increased by 1.1% to 59.2% - and nearly 98% of entrants achieved a grade A* to G. Boys improved their overall performance at grades A*-C by 1.3% compared to 0.9% for girls.
GCSE pupils net biggest rise in top grades for five years
Pupil achievement at GCSE level has risen again, after results published today revealed the biggest rise in top grades since 1999. The results show that A* to C grades increased by 1.1% to 59.2% - and nearly 98% of entrants achieved a grade A* to G. Boys improved their overall performance at grades A*-C by 1.3% compared to 0.9% for girls.
17 August 2006
Maths grades fuel A-level success
Results published today have revealed an increase in the number of candidates achieving A grades has risen by 1.3%, up from 22.8% last year to 24.1% in this year's A Level results. Marked out as contributing significantly to this improvement at grade A was mathematics.
Maths grades fuel A-level success
Results published today have revealed an increase in the number of candidates achieving A grades has risen by 1.3%, up from 22.8% last year to 24.1% in this year's A Level results. Marked out as contributing significantly to this improvement at grade A was mathematics.
15 January 2004
GCSE results continue to show improvement
Today's GCSE/GNVQ performance tables have revealed that specialist schools outperformed non-specialist schools and schools facing challenging circumstances improved at double the national rate, the government claimed today. According to today's tables, the overall percentage of pupils receiving good grades at GCSE has improved – a 1.
GCSE results continue to show improvement
Today's GCSE/GNVQ performance tables have revealed that specialist schools outperformed non-specialist schools and schools facing challenging circumstances improved at double the national rate, the government claimed today. According to today's tables, the overall percentage of pupils receiving good grades at GCSE has improved – a 1.
09 June 2003
Pilot scheme for foreign language learning unveiled
Schools in 19 local education authorities will pilot a new scheme for language learning as a first step towards ensuring all seven to 11-year-olds have the opportunity to learn a foreign language.
Pilot scheme for foreign language learning unveiled
Schools in 19 local education authorities will pilot a new scheme for language learning as a first step towards ensuring all seven to 11-year-olds have the opportunity to learn a foreign language.
12 March 2007
Seven-year-olds to learn languages
Learning a foreign language is to become compulsory for 7 to 14-year-olds in England, the government has announced. Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced that the government would back the recommendation in a review of languages by Lord Dearing.
Seven-year-olds to learn languages
Learning a foreign language is to become compulsory for 7 to 14-year-olds in England, the government has announced. Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced that the government would back the recommendation in a review of languages by Lord Dearing.
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