Hundreds of thousands of teenagers across Britain received their GCSE results today in a year when efforts have been made in England to return grading to pre-pandemic levels.
Experts said students in Britain had faced disruption from Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, with a disproportionate impact on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
GCSE grades have fallen for the second year running as the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) seeks to return results to pre-pandemic levels.