England’s GCSE results reveal thousands of pupils betrayed after two years of Labour rule

The BBC above and the Guardian below are reacting favourably to the GCSE results with, for example:

Almost one in four boys in England received top grades in maths while results in English improved across the board, helping to propel improved GCSE results for this year’s cohort of 16-year-olds.

The stronger performances in maths helped pupils taking GCSEs in year 11 reach a record level for higher grades in England outside the Covid pandemic years, when exams were replaced by teacher assessments. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/20/gcse-results-almost-one-in-four-boys-in-england-get-top-grades-in-maths

Can we compare these results with comparable outcomes for 16 year-olds in Scotland?

There are differences in methods but both have a mix of exams and coursework and in ‘core’ subjects (English, Mathematics, Science) similar content. Both are sat by pupils at around 16.

However, you can be sure if Scotland came out worse, as they (wrongly) claim for Pisa, the media operating in Scpotland would be all over it, differences disregarded.

It doesn’t.

Scotland’s A–C pass rate (79.2%) is substantially higher than the GCSE 4/C+ rate (67.3%). That’s a huge difference affecting thousands of pupils and reflecting Scotland’s far better teacher/pupil ratios.

The National 5 A rate (40.3%) is also markedly higher than the GCSE top-grade (7/A+) share (22%). That’s an astonishing difference which, I bet, could be turned into anti-Scottish propaganda.

Sources:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/117794.html

https://www.jcq.org.uk/exam-results-data/

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4 thoughts on “England’s GCSE results reveal thousands of pupils betrayed after two years of Labour rule”

  1. At the risk of sounding a sour note, I was struck by this letter in today’s The Herald:

    “Honour Adam Smith: study economics

    “This year’s exam results confirm that the subject of Economics, which was founded by one of Scotland’s greatest men, no longer enjoys the esteem it merits in his homeland.

    “In England, Economics is the fifth most popular exam taken by A-level pupils. In Scotland, Higher Economics is ranked 27th. In terms of numbers, 45,515 took A-level Economics, as against 1,755 taking Higher and Advanced Higher Economics.

    “England’s population is about 10.5 times the size of Scotland’s, but its Economics pupils are 28 times as numerous.

    “And in Scotland, the Economics flag is kept flying by the private schools, which provide candidates out of all proportion to their overall numbers.

    “Those responsible for the balance of the curriculum should look at ways of marketing the subject by exposing youngsters in S1 and S2 to the everyday value and career opportunities of studying Economics, as well as the many thrilling tales of economic success and disaster.

    “Adam Smith should be honoured in his native land, rather than be birling in his grave in Canongate Kirkyard.”

    [Full disclosure – my own undergraduate degree was included political economy at Adam Smith’s University of Glasgow]

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    1. I used to teach Business Studies, Economics and Accounting back in the 70’s/80’s to S3 and beyond in Scottish Secondary schools, although Economics tended to be pitched towards more senior/academic pupils for some reason.

      J & J

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      1. Thanks for pointing this out. I suspect the writer of the letter to the Herald was looking only for the term, ‘economics’.

        However, Business Studies and Accounts, like Home Economics and Technical Education was often presented by careers officers in some schools, at times when students were making their choice of subjects as not having a similar status as the Sciences – like what I chose.

        I remember a pal of mine – son of a school Jannie – being humiliated in class by a Chemistry teacher because he had chosen subjects with a political and economics focus rather than chemistry. My pal went on to get a First in economics, did post graduate research, taught in universities in Australia and England before joining the European Commission. He ended his career as the senior EC diplomat in east Asia.

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  2. As everyone should now know that whenever possible the raison d’etra of the English dominated media is to promore England in all its forms whether it is the news, culture, sport etc etc but also to denigrate all others which usually means the other nations comprising the UK with the clear intention others are inferior. It is just English propaganda.

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