Royal Society responds to GCSE results

Responding to the publication of today’s results, Professor Ulrike Tillmann, Chair of the Royal Society’s Education Committee said: 

"Congratulations to all students receiving their GCSE, BTEC Tech Awards and other Level 2 results today.

"It is concerning that the number of students resitting maths GCSE has increased by over 10%. The trend has continued that only 15% of 17-19-year-olds resitting GCSE Maths achieve the grade 4 required for further study or training. History shows that two thirds of GCSE resit students do not achieve the required grade by age 19, and we cannot let this pattern continue.

"Repeated resits create huge pressures on teachers, schools and colleges, not to mention the emotional strain on students forced to retake an exam that does not serve them. We must question whether the maths content these students are studying meets their needs.

"A GCSE course modelled on current level 3 Core Maths qualifications, including real world contexts and problem-solving, would be far more useful in providing students with the data and analytical skills needed for future employment. It is imperative that the Curriculum and Assessment Review addresses the policy around compulsory resits as a priority.

"While the increase of young people taking a dedicated statistics qualification is a positive step, this represents a very small number of GCSE students. Since statistics and data play an increasingly important role in all our lives, we advocate their incorporation into maths courses at all ages.

"Computing is another area that needs a serious system upgrade. While only two thirds of schools offer computing at GCSE, it seems the content does not appeal to students, with overall entries down, especially among girls. AI and digital technologies are advancing at a faster rate than the curriculum can keep up with. If the UK is to meet skills demanded for an AI future, the government must ensure maths and computing courses provide the appropriate content and digital skills. The Royal Society will be publishing our recommendations for computing education later in the autumn setting out strategies to widen access to the subject.

"It is interesting to see the continued fall in students taking Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), with a corresponding increase in Combined Science (worth two GCSEs). Data from the Royal Society’s Science Education Tracker (2023) shows that students who take Combined Science are less likely to pursue science post-16 than those taking Triple Science. They are also less likely to be taught by specialist teachers and spend less time doing hands-on practical science. We need a single pathway for science at GCSE that gives all students the same opportunity to experience an excellent science education."