New record for GCSE pass rates

Teenagers scored record GCSE results again today, with nearly seven in 10 entries awarded at least a C grade.

The pass rate rose for the 23rd year in a row, with English and mathematics both showing an improvement. But foreign languages suffered with another slump in the numbers of pupils taking French and German.

After a drop in the number on English entries being awarded a C last year, the pass rate has risen this summer. Almost two-thirds (64.7 per cent) of English entries gained at least a C grade, up from 62.7 per cent in 2009.

In maths, 58.4 per cent of entries achieved a C, up from 57.2 per cent last summer.

The numbers of pupils taking GCSEs in the three separate sciences - biology, chemistry and physics - has risen, although the proportion awarded top grades has fallen, according to figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.

Overall, 69.1 per cent of all GCSE entries were awarded at least a C grade, up two per cent on 2009. More than one in five entries achieved an A* or an A, up one per cent on last year.

The rises came despite the number of entries dipping again this year — there were more than 5.37 million entries, compared with 5.47 million in 2009.

JCQ director Dr Jim Sinclair said: "The increased entries in biology, chemistry and physics, coupled with improved performance in English and mathematics, is very good news indeed," Dr Sinclair said.

Andrew Hall, chief executive of the AQA exam board, said: "Today is a good day for science and quite a sad day for languages."

He said the numbers taking French at GCSE had halved since 2002 and it was the first time that the subject was not in the top 10 most popular subjects.

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