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📊 Data from 2019-2025🆓 100% Free📈 Official Government Data

UK School Results2025 Statistics Dashboard

See how GCSE and A-Level results have changed since COVID. Track Grade 9 and A* rates, compare school attendance, and see how your region performs.

4.8%
Get Grade 9 (GCSE)
9.0%
Get A* (A-Level)
91.8%
School Attendance
19.8%
Persistent Absence
Pass Rate (4+)
70.7%
Students achieving standard pass
0.0%
Grade 7+ Rate
22.1%
Equivalent to old A*-A
-0.3%
Grade 9 Rate
4.8%
Top grade achievers
-0.1%
Total Entries
5.8M
GCSE entries in 2025
60K

GCSE Grade Trends Over Time

Pass Rate (4+) by Subject (2025)

Is Maths getting harder?

Grade boundaries have stabilised post-COVID. 2025 shows pre-pandemic difficulty levels with Grade 9 rate at 4.8%.

COVID Impact on Results

2020-2021 saw inflated grades due to Teacher Assessed Grades. Since 2022, results have been returning to normal.

Data Source Attribution

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Sources: UK Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ | Last updated: January 2025

Understanding UK Education Statistics

The UK education system undergoes constant evolution, and understanding the statistics behind exam results and school attendance is crucial for parents making informed decisions. This dashboard presents data from the Department for Education, Ofqual, and JCQ to give you a complete picture of educational trends.

Since 2017, GCSEs have used a 9-1 grading scale where Grade 9 represents exceptional performance (top 3-5% of candidates), Grade 4 is a standard pass (equivalent to old Grade C), and Grade 5 is a "strong pass" often required for sixth form entry.

Post-COVID Education Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted UK education. In 2020 and 2021, exams were cancelled and replaced with Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs) and Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs), leading to substantially higher results. The A* rate at A-Level jumped from 7.8% in 2019 to 19.1% in 2021.

Since 2022, results have been returning to pre-pandemic levels through a carefully managed process by Ofqual. The 2025 results are now very close to 2019 baselines, though school attendance remains a concern with persistent absence still nearly double pre-COVID levels.

A-Level Trends Analysis

A-Level results are critical for university admissions. The proportion achieving A*-A grades peaked at 44.9% in 2021 but has returned to around 27% in 2025. STEM subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology) typically have higher A* rates due to their selective intake.

Further Mathematics consistently has the highest A* rate (around 30%) because it's typically only taken by the most mathematically able students. Psychology and Sociology have lower top-grade rates but remain popular choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GCSE maths getting harder?

+
Grade boundaries have stabilised since the 2022 exams. The 2025 Grade 9 rate of 4.8% is very close to pre-pandemic levels (4.7% in 2019). The difficulty hasn't changed significantly, but the 2020-2021 inflated grades due to Teacher Assessed Grades made subsequent years seem harder by comparison.

How has school attendance changed since COVID?

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Overall attendance dropped from 94.5% pre-COVID (2018-19) to around 91% in 2023-24. Persistent absence (missing 10%+ of sessions) nearly doubled from 10.9% to over 20%. However, there are signs of improvement with 2023-24 showing a slight recovery.

What percentage of students get a Grade 9 at GCSE?

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Approximately 5-6% of entries achieve Grade 9 nationally. However, this varies significantly by subject - around 8% in Further Maths but only 3% in some arts subjects. Grade 9 is designed to identify exceptional performance.

Were 2020 and 2021 GCSE/A-Level results inflated?

+
Yes. Due to exam cancellations, grades in 2020 (Centre Assessed Grades) and 2021 (Teacher Assessed Grades) were significantly higher. For example, A-Level A* rates jumped from 7.8% (2019) to 14.3% (2020) and 19.1% (2021). Since 2022, grades have returned closer to historical norms.

What is the GCSE pass rate in the UK?

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The standard pass rate (Grade 4+) is approximately 73% nationally. The strong pass rate (Grade 5+) is around 55%. These figures vary by subject - core subjects like Maths and English tend to have slightly lower pass rates due to their mandatory nature.

What is persistent absence and why does it matter?

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Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of school sessions. Research shows students with persistent absence achieve significantly lower GCSE grades - around 1.5 grades lower on average. It's a key indicator schools and parents monitor closely.

Where does this data come from?

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All data is sourced from official UK Government statistics via the Explore Education Statistics platform, including the Department for Education, Ofqual, and JCQ. Data is published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Can I use this data for research?

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Yes. The underlying data is published under the Open Government Licence v3.0, which permits free use, adaptation, and redistribution for any purpose. Please attribute the source as "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0".

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