GCSE Results 2017: entries in the newly reformed subjects have risen from last year

The number of pupils entered in the reformed GCSE subjects of English language, English literature and maths have increased from last year.

There have also been record entries into geography GCSEs this year.

GCSE results also show that across the reformed subjects, 51,257 grade 9s have been awarded and attainment for a standard pass in English has risen from 24.4 per cent last year, to 31.1 per cent in England.

More pupils appear to be taking their maths GCSEs at a time that is right for them as early entries in maths reduced by 64.6 per cent, but the number of entries gaining a grade 9 is at 13.3 per cent, compared to 3.5 per cent overall

Minister of state for school standards, Nick Gibb has congratulated pupils.

He said: “The government’s new gold-standard GCSEs in English and maths have been benchmarked against the best in the world, raising academic standards for pupils. These reforms represent another step in our drive to raise standards, so that pupils have the knowledge and skills they need to compete in a global workplace.

“The fruits of these reforms will be seen in the years to come, but already pupils and teachers are rising to the challenge with more than 50,000 top 9 grades awarded across the new GCSEs and more than two-thirds of entries sitting the tougher English and maths exams securing a grade 4 or C and above - a standard pass.”