Now GCSE pupils face grades misery

GCSE pupils face misery this week as top grades are set to fall by almost a quarter of a million – the biggest plunge in history.

The drop in pupils receiving at least an A or 7 will affect an estimated 75,000 children, a report has claimed.

More than half a million 15 and 16-year-olds will pick up their results on Thursday after exams were held for the first time since teacher-assessed grades were introduced during the Covid pandemic.

The report, by the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, found there will be 230,000 fewer A or 7 grades across the UK. Meanwhile, the number getting at least a standard pass – grade 4 or C – will drop by 280,000.

In addition, the experts said that boys are still lagging behind girls as they were ‘inclined to escape to their PlayStations’ in lockdown, meaning they got less work done.

The Department for Education said: ‘In line with the plans set out by Ofqual, and as part of the transition back to pre-pandemic grading levels, GCSE grades this week will be higher than in 2019 but lower than in 2021.’