Exams

GCSE results 2022: Only 9 per cent drop in top grades

The fall in top GCSE grades takes results only a third of the way back to 2019 levels, when Ofqual promised a 'midway point'

The fall in top GCSE grades takes results only a third of the way back to 2019 levels, when Ofqual promised a 'midway point'

GCSE results day 2022 saw a decline on the proportion of top grades

The proportion of pupils achieving top GCSE grades has dropped by just nine per cent since 2021 after the first summer exams in three years.

Today’s results data shows 27 per cent of grades handed to 16-year-olds in England were 7 to 9. It marks a decline on the 30 per cent recorded in 2021, but still way up on the 21.8 per cent in pre-pandemic 2019.

Exams regulator Ofqual had said this year that grades would be brought back down after large rises when teachers decided grades in the previous two years.

This year’s results would mark a “midway point” between those issued last year and in pre-pandemic 2019, Ofqual previously said.

But the fall in top grades equates to reversing roughly just a third of the inflation since 2019 – rather than the half that would be expected to reach a midway point.

It suggests that the regulator will have to implement more drastic downgrading next year to get top grades back to to pre-pandemic standards – despite those pupils also having suffered from Covid disruption.

The grade 5 pass rate – considered a “strong pass” – has dropped from 62.8 per cent in 2021 – when teacher assessed grades were awarded – to 60.3 per cent in 2022.

However, this is still higher than the 53.5 per cent in 2019.

The grade four pass rate for 16-year-olds in England – considered a “standard pass” – was 75.3 per cent, down from 79 per cent last year, but higher than the 69.9 per cent in 2019.

The drop in the 4-plus pass rate is around 40 per cent of the fall needed to return to 2019 levels – so closer to the midway aim.

Dr Jo Saxton, chief regulator, said students can be “so proud of their achievements – a testament to their hard work and resilience over the past two years”.

“I felt strongly that it would not have been right to go straight back to pre-pandemic grading in one go but accept that we do need to continue to take steps back to normality. These results overall, coming as they do broadly midway between 2021 and 2019, represent a staging post on that journey.”

NRT shows big drop in maths – but no grade changes

The regulator has also published a digest of this year’s national reference test results. The NRT is taken by a sample of students each year to monitor pupil performance over time and inform GCSE grading.

The 2022 NRT found no statistically significant difference at any key grades in English when compared to 2020 results.

However, maths showed a “statistically significant downward change” when compared to 2020. But Ofqual “decided not to implement a downward change [in grades] because this would be counter to the wider policy intent of more generous grading to reflect the disruption caused by the pandemic”.

Last year’s NRT also showed a big drop in maths performance, when compared to 2020. Performance this year has actually slightly improved since then, but is still below pre-pandemic.

Education secretary James Cleverly said pupils should be “incredibly proud”, especially given the “unprecedented disruption” they have faced.

He also thanked the “brilliant teaching profession”, parents and carers for their support for young people.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned: “It is important to understand this year’s results at school and pupil level in this context and we would urge Ofsted and Regional Schools Commissioners in particular not to rush to judgements.”

Latest education roles from

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Navigating NPQ Funding Cuts: An Apprenticeship Success Story

Last year’s NPQ funding cuts meant that half of England’s teachers faced costs of up to £4,000 to complete...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Embedding Formative Assessment: not just a box-ticking exercise but something long-term and meaningful for all

Our EFA programme has been proven to help schools achieve better GCSE results, as evidenced by the EEF. Find...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building capacity in family support to tackle low school attendance 

Persistent and severe school absence impacts children, families, and communities—especially in disadvantaged areas. School-Home Support’s Attendance Support and Development Programme...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Exams

Exam board fined £250k over string of rule breaches

Ofqual found teachers who also drew up assessments could have known which papers pupils would take, and conflicts among...

Jack Dyson
Exams

Ofqual: School-level exam cheating hits three-year high

Cases of students cheating also jumped by 5.9 per cent, Ofqual data shows

Lucas Cumiskey
Exams

EPI calls for review of phonics screening check

Researchers argue there's 'no evidence' the checks led to improved outcomes

Freddie Whittaker
Exams

AQA uses injunction to clamp down on exam paper cheats

England's largest exam board said it is taking 'proactive enforcement against those who try to undermine confidence in exams'

Samantha Booth

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *