The biggest drop in the top grades was in independent schools, falling by 8% points from 61% in 2021 to 53% this year. But the results for this year exceed the pre Covid levels when top grades of 7/A and above was 47%.
This is the first time in three years that students have sat GCSE exams following the Covid pandemic. GCSE results are higher than in 2019 and lower than in 2021 in line with plans set out by Ofqual last year.
The results for students at independent schools being awarded grade 4 and above fell slightly from 95.5% in 2021 to 92.5% in 2022. Again, this is ahead of results for 2019 when 90.1% received a grade 4 or above.
More generally, the 2022 results show that just over three-quarters (75.3%) of GCSE grades for 16 year olds in England are at grade 4 or above, up from 69.9% in 2019 when formal exams last took place and down from 79.1% in 2021, in line with the policy intent set out last year.
“Students receiving their results today should be extremely proud, and I want to congratulate them all. The teaching profession has worked incredibly hard, and these results are a testament to the resilience of both our students and staff”. education secretary, James Cleverly
Top grades for 16 year olds in England also increased on 2019, with 27.0% of entries achieving a grade 7 and above, up by 5.2ppt compared to 2019, and 3.0ppt lower than 2021.
The Department of Education (DfE) reports that overall, the grades today are higher than in 2019 – recognising the unprecedented disruption students have faced – but lower than in 2021 when exceptional steps were taken to ensure progression.
Education secretary James Cleverly said: “Students receiving their results today should be extremely proud, and I want to congratulate them all. The teaching profession has worked incredibly hard, and these results are a testament to the resilience of both our students and staff.
The DfE supported students with a range of adaptations such as advance information on the content of exams, the National Tutoring Programme, increasing the time in schools and colleges at 16-19 around 40 hours a year from September for all students.
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