Exam success - GCSE results

Provisional GCSE results for the 2017/18 academic year have been released today showing that 63.7% of Bedford Borough students reached the required standard in English and Mathematics at Grade 4 and above (standard pass) and 41.1% of Bedford Borough students reached the required standard in English and Mathematics at Grade 5 and above (strong pass), an increase of around 3% on last year.

The Average Attainment 8 Score was 45.29 across Bedford Borough - the average score obtained by a student for their best 8 GCSE results.

This is the second year of the revised GCSEs which are graded from 9 - 1. This year, a further 20 subjects were assessed for the first time in this new way, which includes less emphasis on coursework, bringing the total to 23. Given these differences in context, grading and assessment, it is not possible to directly compare the new grade scale with the old A* to G grades.

Councillor Henry Vann, Portfolio Holder for Education at Bedford Borough Council, said "It is great to see an increase of 3% in the number of students achieving a Grade 5 and above in English and Maths. A huge well done to every young person - and all their teachers - who worked so hard to achieve these results. Thank you as well to all the Governors, senior leaders and whole school communities who play such an important role in the educational life of our Borough."