LIVE: GCSE results day 2021 as students across Derbyshire find out their grades
and live on Freeview channel 276
It is the second year in a row that results have been determined by teachers’ assessements after formal exams were scrapped due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In England, GCSE pupils now graded on a numerical system from 9 to 1, rather than from A to E – a grading system which was brought in alongside a new GCSE curriculum.
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Hide AdThe highest grade is 9, while 1 is the lowest, not including a U (ungraded).
Grades 9, 8 and 7 correspond to the two previous top grades of A* and A, while a 4 is broadly equivalent to a C grade.
Pupils need a 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a "strong pass".
We’ll be bringing you all the latest news from across the Derbyshire region on this live blog as GCSE results day 2021 gets underway and are out at Eckington School speaking to students as they receive their grades.
To share you GCSE news with us today, email [email protected]
Live updates as students from across Derbyshire collect their GCSE results
Key Events
- Students across Derbyshire are finding out their GCSE grades today
- We attended Eckington School as Year 11 pupils opened their results
GCSE results hit record high
The number of students receiving top GCSE grades has surged to an all-time high this year.
It come after formal exams were cancelled for the second year running due to the disruption caused by Covid-19.
Youngsters across the country have been given results determined by teachers’ assessements, based on what they have been taught during the pandemic.
Overall, 28.9 per cent of UK GCSE entries were awarded one of the three top grades this year, up by 2.7 percentage points on last year when 26.2 per cent achieved the top grades, figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland show.
In 2019, when exams were last held, only a fifth (20.8 per cent) of entries achieved at least a 7 - the equivalent of an A grade.
Girls have pulled further ahead than boys amid the rise in top grades this year.
The gap between boys and girls achieving one of the top three grades has risen from eight percentage points in 2020 to nine percentage points this year.
GCSE pupils have been through an “exceptional year”, says schools minister
Speaking to Sky News, Nick Gibb said: “This is an exceptional year, designed to make sure that despite the pandemic, despite the fact we had to cancel exams, because it wouldn’t have been fair for children, young people, to sit exams when they’ve had such different experiences of Covid – the different levels of self-isolation and so on – so a teacher-assessed system was the best alternative to make sure they can go on to the next phase of their education or careers.”
He said the Government wanted examinations to return next year, adding: “We’ve already announced the adjustments to the exams – we expect all young people to be taking exams in 2022 but we will be making adjustments to those exams to reflect the fact that this cohort will have had disruption to their education as well.
“And the regulator Ofqual will be saying more about the grading standard that will be used for those exams in the autumn term.”
Mr Gibb also said the Government will be talking about what the grading standard will be for the 2022 exams.
“We are also looking at, in the longer term… how to make sure we get back to the system we had before the pandemic broke where we had year-on-year no grade inflation,” he added.
“We want to get back to that system in the longer run but we have to make sure that when we do that, that we are fair between different years, different cohorts – the ones who took their exams in 2020 and 2021, and the students who take their exams in the future.
“It is fairness that lies at the heart of any decisions about grading.
“These are very difficult decisions to make and we will be doing so in conjunction with the regulator, with the exam boards and indeed with teachers and parents and students up and down the country before we come to a firm decision. The issue about the grading system is for the longer term.
Pride at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy on GCSE results day
Staff and students joined together to celebrate the many achievements today, at the end of what has been another unusual year in light of Covid-19 and the cancellation of examinations.
Despite this, the academy, which is sponsored by Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT), has seen continued success with some of the standout individual achievements including:
- Jack Porter who received 2 Grade 9s in Maths and Geography, 4 Grade 8s in English Literature, Chemistry, Physics and Design Technology, 3 Grade 7s in Biology, English Language and French and a Distinction* in BTEC Sports.
- Ashton Anderson, who secured 2 Grade 9s in Chemistry and History, 4 Grade 8s in Maths, Biology, French and Physics, 2 Grade 7s in English Language and English Literature, and a Distinction * in BTEC Performing Arts and Sports.
- Mitchell Hart collected 7 Grade 8s in English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, 1 Grade 7 in French, A Distinction * in BTEC Sports and a Distinction in Music.
- Natalya Park received 1 Grade 9 in English Literature, 2 Grade 8s in English Language and Biology and 3 Grade 7s in Maths, Chemistry, and History.
- Demi Page achieved 2 Grade 9s in History and Art, 5 Grade 7s in English Language, Maths, Biology, Physics and English Literature.
Nia Salt, Principal at Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, said: “Our 2021 Year 11 cohort have shown such commitment, dedication and spirit over the last two years of their studies, and I am delighted that our students are able to collect their hard-earned results today.
“I am very proud of the achievements of all our students, and their hard-work has now enabled them to take their exciting next steps as they move on from the OIEA family.
“We wish our students the very best of luck with their next steps and would like to thank our brilliant staff, families and wider school community for their ongoing support over the last two years.”
GCSE success for students at Netherthorpe School
Netherthorpe School says all of its students have succeeded as they collect their GCSE and vocational qualification results today.
Headteacher Helen McVicar said: “I am very proud of all our young people and how they have adapted and responded to the uncertainty and change they have faced this year at school.
“I wish them all the best for the future. Whatever route they take, we know that they will continue to make positive changes in the world.”