Following the initial JCQ release of data earlier today, we have pulled out some key insights in this blog. You can also use the tool below to dig deeper into trends over time and subject grade breakdowns for the results for 16-year-olds in England.
Overall, the total number of GCSE entries for 16-year-olds in England has risen from 5.1 million in 2025, up to 5.2 million in 2026, largely explained by the ~1% increase in the population of 16 year old pupils. Of these entries, there has been a small increase in the proportion achieving a pass grade (grade 4 or above), up to 70.7% this year (a 0.2% point increase from 2025). The proportion of pupils achieving the top grades (7 or above) remains at a relatively similar level to last year, at 23.1% of entries achieving a grade 7 or above in 2026 compared to 23% in 2025.
The regional differences in GCSE outcomes have continued this year. For example, in London 28.6% of all entries were graded at a 7 or above, compared to only 17.7% of all entries in the North East.
- Yorkshire and the Humber has seen the largest increase in attainment from 2025 levels. The proportion of entries achieving the top grades (7 or above) has risen by 0.5% points up to 19% in 2026, and the proportion achieving pass grades has increased to 64.2% (a 0.6% point increase).
- The South West saw the largest decrease in the proportion of entries achieving a pass grade, falling by 0.7% points from the 2025 level. However, at 68.3% in 2026, this is still the third highest of all England regions
This year, JCQ have also released some initial vocational and technical qualification results, with attainment levels varying across different vocational subject areas. For example, of the 4,000 entries in England in Health, Public Services and Care qualifications, 13.2% of the cohort achieved a Distinction/Distinction or above. This compares to only 3.4% of the 1,200 pupils taking an Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies related qualification.
Entries by subject
- There has been a decrease in entries for triple science, with biology, chemistry and physics all seeing a year on year decrease of at least 1% in entries from 2025.
- There has been a large rise in the number of entries for business studies – increasing by over 10,000 entries (8.3%) in 2026 compared to 2025
- In contrast, there has been a fall in the number of entries for computing, with a 7.2% decrease from 2025 to a little over 80,000
- Statistics saw the largest year on year increase in entries – with an 11.4% increase from 2025, there were just over 26,000 entries in 2026
- Psychology and sociology both saw relatively large increases in the number of entries in 2026, increasing by 3% and 4.6% respectively.
Grade breakdown by subject
- Of the 6,900 entries in performing arts, there has been a rise in pass grades – with now over three quarters (77.5%) of this cohort achieving at least a grade 4. This is an increase of 3.2% points from 2025.
- There has been a slight fall in the proportion of students passing English Literature compared to 2025. In contrast, the proportion achieving a pass (a grade 4 or above) in English Language has risen slightly, to 71.4% in 2026.
- Of the larger number of entries for statistics this year, there was an increase in the proportion achieving the top grades – 18.5% of entries were graded at a 7 or above in 2026 (a 1% point increase from 2025)
Explore this year’s GCSE grades by subject in our interactive tool
Gender breakdown
- In maths, 24% of entries for male pupils were at a grade 7 or above, compared to just 20.5% for female pupils. This trend of a higher proportion of male entries achieving the top grades than among female entries was also see in previous years for maths, and is also mirrored in the results for statistics. This is contrary to the average seen across all subjects, where a higher proportion of female entries (25.5%) achieve the top grades compared to male entries (20.7%)
- Of the 80,000 entries in computing only 22.7% were for female pupils. However, more than a third (35.8%) of entries for female pupils in computing were graded at a 7 or above (well above the 28% of male entries achieving the top grades in computing, and well above the female average across all subjects of 25.5%)
- Almost half (49.4%) of male entries in physics were graded at a 7 or above
- For both psychology and sociology, almost three quarters of entries are for female pupils
