Students and schools across Brighton & Hove are celebrating their ‘new-look’ GCSE results today with another great set of results.
This follows significant national changes to how the results are marked and collected, with many calling them much tougher exams.
Students have been awarded grades from 9 to 1 in English and maths, with 9 being the top grade. Government guidance advises that a Grade 4 is considered a ‘Standard’ pass.
Provisional figures received from schools today show that across the city as a whole:
- 78% of pupils achieved grades 9-4 in English
- 72% of pupils achieved grades 9-4 in maths
- 67% of pupils achieved grades 9-4 in both English and maths. This is also known as the basics measure
- the average Attainment 8 score of pupils across Brighton & Hove is 48 (this is the average attainment across eight subjects – see further information below).
Comparable national figures for the new measures will not be available until later in the year.
The chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s children, young people and skills committee, Councillor Dan Chapman, said:
“The new GCSE assessment system is seen by most people as being tougher than before, and may well have made students feel even more anxious. However, I believe the results show they have done very well.
“These good results are due to the hard work and dedication of our students. They sit well alongside good results this year at early years, primary and post-16 levels.
“In Brighton and Hove we have a strong education partnership with schools, the council and other partners collaborating to show continued improvement.
“I would like to congratulate students, teachers and support staff in all our schools and families who have supported them.”
Further information
Attainment 8 focuses on the performance of schools, rather than individual pupils. It measures the students’ average achievement across into account eight subjects. These include:
- English and mathematics
- Three other English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects (sciences, computer science, geography, history and languages)
- Three further subjects. These can be from the range of EBacc subjects, or can be any other GCSE or approved, high-value arts, academic, or vocational qualification.
Further information on Attainment 8 and Progress 8, another new government performance measure, can be found on the Department of Education Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285990/P8_factsheet.pdf
Further information on the new GCSE grading system can be found on the Department of Education Website:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-gcse-9-to-1-grades-coming-soon.
The following provides a visual of the new grading structure: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/596393/Grading_new_GCSEs_from_2017_v4.pdf