GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being issued to pupils who began secondary school during the Covid-19 disruption. Early indications suggest more than one in five entries will be in the top grade bands (7 or A). Last year, 21.8% of UK GCSE entries were awarded the top grade, down from 22.0% in 2023 but above 20.8% in 2019. England returned to pre-pandemic grading levels in 2023, with Wales and Northern Ireland following suit last year after a period when teacher assessments fed results.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the cohort—who moved from primary to secondary during the pandemic—had shown remarkable resilience amid the disruption. Education leaders warn of ongoing challenges, including attendance issues and cost‑of‑living pressures. There has been a rise in requests for extra time and for separate rooms away from the main exam hall since the pandemic. The Sixth Form Colleges Association notes more pupils have SEND, making it harder for schools and colleges to meet all needs, while there are not enough rooms or invigilators to accommodate demand. The Association of School and College Leaders emphasised that the disruption has affected many students, with inequities likely between regions and groups. University of Exeter professor Lee Elliot Major has urged a national corps of undergraduate tutors to help boost literacy and numeracy.

Government ministers and education groups have signalled that competition for sixth forms could be stiffer this year, in part due to a VAT change on private school fees guiding families toward state-sector places. The rise in the 16-year-old population is also expected to push admissions higher in some areas. A government review of curriculum and assessment launched in July last year is due to report in autumn, with headteachers’ unions calling for a reduced assessment burden. NAHT called for a move away from heavy reliance on final exams toward more modular and non‑exam assessments to complement GCSEs. Education Secretary Phillipson said the results highlight entrenched inequalities linked to background and where pupils live, and she reaffirmed a Plan for Change to address this. Ofqual chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham described results day as an important milestone and said the grades will be recognised by employers, schools and colleges as students move on to the next stage.