Schools Minister Nick Gibb congratulated hundreds of thousands of students on their GCSE and Diploma results, and praised the hard work of pupils and teachers in schools this year. He highlighted the success of Academy providers in raising standards in challenging areas across the country and set out the Government’s commitment to narrowing the attainment gap between the rich and the poor.
The 2010 GCSE, Foundation Diploma and Higher Diploma results were published today by the Joint Council for Qualifications – which represents the largest qualification awarding organisations in the country.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said:
Students who received their GCSE results today have worked hard to achieve their success and I’d like to add my congratulations to those of their parents, friends and teachers. GCSEs are a crucial stepping stone in life – whether to further academic study, vocational education or into the workplace and training. I’d also like to thank the teachers and other school staff who have put so much effort into preparing young people for these exams.
While celebrating individual success and welcoming the fact that there has been an enormous take-up of GCSEs in the individual sciences, we believe that more needs to be done to close the attainment gap between those from the poorest and wealthiest backgrounds.
The continued success of Academies in some of the most challenging areas of the country shows what can be done. We are committed to expanding the number of Academies as we need to do more to raise expectations and help ensure that all children, regardless of their backgrounds, can excel.
That is why the Coalition Government is determined to drive ahead with our reform agenda: giving schools more freedom and professional autonomy; raising standards of behaviour in schools; creating a strong core curriculum which gives children the knowledge to think for themselves and allows teachers to inspire their pupils; raising the prestige of teaching and introducing the Pupil Premium to give support to the most disadvantaged students in the country.
Notes to Editors
1. All GCSE, Foundation Diploma and Higher Diploma results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland can be viewed at the Joint Council for Qualifications website.
2. The Exams Results Helpline, funded by the Department for Education, provides free, on-the-spot information and advice to GCSE and A Level students who do not receive the results they expect on: 0808 100 8000 from 18th to 28th August. For more information see the UCAS website.
The Connexions Direct service is also available from 8am through to 2am to advise young people on future options open to them, via e-mail, web chat, SMS or the free phone number 0808 001 3219 which includes a free call back option. For face to face advice, young people can continue to get support from Connexions services in making choices about their future learning or employment.
There is also advice for parents and young people via the DirectGov website.
3. DfE video clip of interview with Schools Minister Nick Gibb is available online in the Multimedia section of the Department’s website.
