The UK General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results released this week show overall grade stability compared to last year, but also highlight ongoing inequalities in student achievements.
As core subjects like english and maths continue to be major hurdles, with this year’s results showing the highest failure rates in a decade for both subjects.
There is also a clear divide between school types. Almost half (48.1%) of GCSEs taken at private schools in England were graded 7 or higher, compared to just 18.2% at non-selective state schools.
Fiona Spellman, CEO of the education charity SHINE, said, “The primary difference comes from the circumstances in those children’s lives.”
Where students live also plays a big role. In London, 28.4% of grades were 7 or above, compared to 17.8% in the North East. Northern Ireland performed even better, with 31.6% achieving top grades.
However, girls outperformed boys once again. Among those receiving a grade 7 or above, 55.8% were girls, 44.2% boys. Among 16-year-olds taking 7 or more subjects, 60.7% of top-grade recipients were girls.
Despite this, experts say the gender gap is narrowing slightly though not enough yet to mark a clear trend.
Subject choice also differed: girls were more likely to study arts, health, and social care subjects, while boys were more drawn to technology, engineering, and computing.
White Working-Class Boys Struggling Most
Although the data doesn’t show ethnicity or income directly, government figures from last year show that white British boys eligible for free school meals have some of the lowest pass rates. Black Caribbean and mixed heritage boys also struggle similarly.
Professor David Spendlove from the University of Manchester said, “The system is stacked against them,they face challenges at every hurdle.”
After GCSEs, around 40% of students go on to A-levels, 20% pursue other Level 3 qualifications like BTECs or T-levels, and about 3.5% start apprenticeships. But 6.2% of 16-year-olds are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Boys and disadvantaged students are more likely to fall into this NEET category. Many also struggle to complete apprenticeships due to failing Level 2 maths.
However, more students are resitting exams, a 12.1% increase this year among those aged 17 and over.
SHINE’s Dr Helen Rafferty said this shows resilience: “I do think it’s encouraging that so many students are choosing to move on to get their English and maths results.”
GCSE grades may be stable overall, but inequalities tied to region, school type, gender, and background remain deeply rooted. The effects of the pandemic are still being felt especially by those who were already at a disadvantage.
