GCSE results not so grade

THE number of top GCSE grades has fallen after a toughening up of the exams. Harder English and maths tests came with new nine-point gradings scale.

Of 500,000 pupils, 2,000 in England got a top 9 in English, English lit and maths. Last year 6,000 got A* in all three.

There were 50,000 grade 9s overall, of which two thirds were awarded to girls.

But entries hitting top grades – at least an A or 7 – has fallen to 20%, down 0.5% on last year.