Students across Leeds celebrate GCSE results day

Around 9,600 year 11 students in the city are opening their results today, which – like last week’s A-levels – are nationally expected to be broadly similar to those of summer 2024.

This is the third year that results have been determined solely by students’ performances in their assessments. This followed the adoption of different assessment methods during the years 2020-2022 due to the impact of the pandemic, which led to a general increase in higher grades in those years.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:

“Congratulations to everyone who has taken their GCSEs this year for the hard work and effort that has gone into achieving these results.

“Taking exams is a difficult and stressful time but students have done themselves and the city proud. I’d like to also thank teaching staff and families who have supported our young people on their learning journeys to this point.

“As corporate parents, we are also keen to say how proud we are of all the looked after children who are receiving GCSE results today and we also celebrate the social workers, fostering and kinship carers, independent visitors, residential staff, designated teachers and Virtual School team who supported them.

“Many students have now got the qualifications they need to take their next steps and I wish everyone all the very best for the future.

“For those still considering their options, there is a wealth of support, advice and guidance available from schools and Leeds City Council’s Start in Leeds platform.”

As primary SATs were cancelled in the academic years of 2019/20 and 2020/21, there will be no data available to calculate ‘Progress 8’ scores for students finishing GCSEs this year, or next year.

Progress 8 scores, published annually in November, measure progress pupils make between their key stage 2 SATs results and performance in GCSEs. The Department for Education has announced there will be no replacement measure for these year groups.

Information on next steps

There is support available for students who did not get the results they were hoping for and those who don’t have plans for September.

Students can use Leeds City Council’s Start in Leeds platform to access information and advice about post-16 learning opportunities and get in touch with local schools, colleges and apprenticeship providers.

The Next Steps page also signposts learners to the council’s Employment Hub and the Leeds Pathways team, both of which can give information, advice and guidance to young people as they decide what to do next.

The Start in Leeds Next Steps page can be accessed here.

For looked after children, the Virtual School team will be providing targeted support to social workers to ensure our children can move onto their preferred post-16 pathway.

ENDS