GCSE results this year saw the first awards of the new 9 to 1 GCSE grades in maths, English Literature and English Language.

2017 results overall for 16 year olds in English and maths were stable at grade C/4 when comparing combined GCSE and international GCSE outcomes from last summer.

Small percentages of candidates achieved a grade 9, designed to recognise the very highest performing students: 2.6% of candidates achieved a grade 9 in English language; 3.3% in English literature; and 3.5% in maths.

The balance of entries to the two maths tiers at GCSE changed from last year.  In 2016, 24% of candidates entered for the foundation tier.  This increased to 47% this year.

Behind maths and English, science, religious studies, history and geography remained the most popular subjects.

The summer’s GCSE outcomes show that post-16 re-sits for GCSEs in English and maths continued to rise in England.

Whilst the number of candidates achieving a standard pass in GCSE English increased amongst this post-16 group, the attainment rate for maths decreased.

New GCSEs graded 9-1 are being phased in. By 2020 all GCSEs taken in England will be graded 9 to 1.

Qualification reforms have made comparisons difficult across years, subjects and UK nations this year.  Ofqual has published more detailed results information on GCSEs.  Statistics covering the whole of the UK by subject, grade and age are available on the JCQ website.