Some independent schools have said they may be forced to cut certain subjects at GCSE or A level owing to the government's VAT policy, according to the Independent Schools Council (ISC). Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, said some schools have claimed they might have to drop certain subjects to "keep fees as affordable for parents while also delivering a broad and balanced curriculum". This comes amid warnings from union leaders that government funding cuts, teacher shortages and harsh grading have made it "very difficult" for state schools to run courses that attract smaller groups of students. By Connie Dimsdale, iNews. 

An article in the Money section of The Telegraph offers advice to parents who may no longer be able to afford an independent education for their child as a result of the VAT on fees policy. By Pieter Snepvangers.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers received their results yesterday, with a record 6.5 million grades issued across GCSEs as well as Level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs). The proportion of entries awarded the top grades - at least a 7 or A grade - has dropped slightly from 22 per cent in 2023 to 21.8 per cent, but remains higher than the 20.8 per cent figure from 2019, before the Covid pandemic. Similarly, the proportion of grades awarded at 4 or C and above, which is considered the standard pass grade, is 67.3 per cent, compared with 68.2 per cent last year and 67.3 per cent in 2019. Sky News. 

Figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications show that girls achieved almost 170,000 more top grades than their male counterparts this year. While boys are narrowing the lead in terms of top grades, there is still a significant gap between boys and girls in almost all subjects. By Elizabeth Haigh, Daily Mail. 

The Telegraph reports the share of top grades awarded to GCSE pupils from independent schools in England rose to 48.4 per cent this year, up from 47.8 per cent in 2023. For academies, the figure has increased slightly from 21 per cent last year to 21.2 per cent this year, while comprehensive schools have seen a 1 percentage point increase this year to 19.4 per cent. ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon is quoted, saying the results show "children in independent schools did especially well", adding: "It is a great pity that the application of VAT is going to make these very good independent schools less accessible." By Poppy Wood and Ollie Corfe.

The GCSE attainment gap between the south and the rest of England has widened, BBC News reports. London is the highest-performing region this year, with 72.5 per cent of entries graded as at least 4/C, while the West Midlands is lowest-performing with a pass rate of 63.1 per cent. By Hazel Shearing and Judith Burns. 

The Times reports language GCSEs have seen a resurgence in popularity, with the number of pupils opting to take French, Spanish and German increasing following Ofqual's decision to make grading more generous. By Nicola Woolcock, George Willoughby and Ed Halford.

An article in Schools Week outlines seven key trends in England's GCSE results data. By Samantha Booth and Jack Dyson. 

Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator of Ofqual, writes in The Times reflecting on this year's exam results data, saying: "We should all use this insight to improve opportunities for all young people, from all parts of the country and from all backgrounds." In a letter to The Times, Mark Hoskins, headmaster of Reed's School, responds to Sir Ian's claim that regional disparities in this year's GCSE results "point to an agenda for change". He writes: "I would argue that a more radical approach is needed and on a national basis. Amid the pictures of pupils joyfully gaining high grades there is the forgotten third of children who have not attained at least a grade 4 in maths and English at GCSE... Rather than finding out what children cannot do we should find out what they can do and equip them with the skills they need."

Speaking to Tes, school leaders have warned that the impact of the pandemic on pupil mental health and high absence rates continue to hinder schools' efforts to support student outcomes. This comes after a survey for the Association of School and College Leaders found that more than three-quarters of teachers and school leaders reported seeing poor mental health linked to exam anxiety. By Cerys Turner. In response, Sir Ian Bauckham has said it is necessary to have "a debate more widely about anxiety amongst young people, but I don't think that is an exam-specific issue". By Jasmine Norden, Tes. 

The government's curriculum and assessment review should examine the policy requiring pupils who do not pass GCSE English and maths to re-sit the subjects, according to the chief regulator. Speaking to Schools Week, Sir Ian Bauckham said that while he does not have a view on the policy itself, it would be "helpful for the government's curriculum and assessment review to look at this question, assess all the evidence in the round and reach a conclusion". By Freddie Whittaker. 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) has announced a series of new rules designed to combat the sharing of exam content across time zones, after time differences were exploited during the May exam series to cheat. From November, the IB will adjust start times for exams in certain schools to prevent the sharing of topics and questions with students based in later time zones. By Emma Seith, Tes. 

Nearly two-thirds of teachers who have read the draft transgender guidance for schools think it is "more divisive than helpful", a poll by Teacher Tapp has found. According to the survey, 57 per cent of teachers had still not read the guidance six months after it was published. By Amy Gibbons, The Telegraph. 

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