THIS year's GCSE results were published this week showing a rise in passes at grades A* to C with significant shifts in the popularity of some subjects. While the proportion gaining GCSEs at A* to C increased by 0.3 per cent to 54.7 per cent of all candidates, the overall pass rate at grades A* to G fell by 0.8 per cent. The A* and A pass rate rose by 0.7 per cent to 14.7 per cent.
Overall the number of GCSE candidates fell by 1.2 per cent, reflecting the decline in the age cohort. But the numbers sitting economics were down 22.6 per cent, business studies down 10.6 per cent and history down by 7.8 per cent.