GCSE results 2025

This week saw many nervous young people receive their GCSE results after much hard work.

The number of top grades awarded for GCSEs has risen from last year and remains higher than before the pandemic.

A total of 21.9% of entries have been awarded a grade 7 or above, up  from 21.8% last year and higher than the 20.8% recorded in 2019.

The proportion of entries getting at least a 4  – considered a “standard pass” – has fallen from 67.6% in 2024 to 67.4% this year.

Girls have outperformed boys for the top grades, but the gap has narrowed.

Overall, there were 6,160,034 GCSE entries.

A pilot started this year where some pupils were able to receive online results.

In England, students who do not secure at least a grade 4 – which is considered a “standard pass” – in English and/or maths GCSE are required to retake the subjects during post-16 education.

Among 16-year-olds in England, 183,450 did not achieve a grade 4 or above in English language this year, up 1,770 from 2024.

In maths, 174,930 16-year-olds did not achieve a grade 4 or above, 970 fewer than last year.

UK GCSE entries for students aged 17 and over has risen by 12.1% from last year.

Of course forcing students to resit does not always bring improved results and it is skewing the GCSE figures. Whilst English and Maths GCSE passes are a required pathway into many careers the education sector must do much more for the students who need to resit. It is important that the shortcomings are analysed and individualised mentoring programmes are drawn up so students are given the best possible opportunity to succeed. Will government pay for this?