Students being awarded top grades in their GCSE exams has dropped from last year, but remains higher than 2019, as grading returns to near pre-pandemic levels.
Figures show that 22 per cent of pupils were awarded the top grades of 7/A or above, down from 26.3 per cent in 2022 but up from 20.8 per cent in 2019.
It comes amid growing concerns over a north-south divide, with a breakdown of the results exposing a big regional difference.
This forms part of a plan to bring grades down to pre-pandemic levels in England this year, with the exam regulator previously warning schools and headteachers to expect a drop in top GCSE grades.
It comes after Covid-19 led to an increase in grades in 2020 and 2021, with the results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.
GCSE pupils in the UK last year had a pass rate of 73.2 per cent, compared with 67.3 per cent in 2019.
With efforts made to restore grading to similar levels to 2019, the number of pupils in England achieving at least a grade 4 in English and maths GCSE has fallen, which could impact whether they go on to sixth form, college or training.
