ISC Daily News Summary

The proportion of top grades at GCSE this year has dropped from record highs seen during the pandemic, but remains higher than the level awarded in 2019. By Poppy Wood, Alannah Francis and Lucie Heath, iNews.

A statement from Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), wishing pupils well as they receive their results can be read here.

Exam board Pearson has suggested that some BTEC Level 2 students will not receive their results as planned today. According to BBC News, affected students may be deemed "ineligible" to receive their grades because some of their marks are not logged in the system. By Hazel Shearing.

Professor Becky Francis, chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, has said it is "more important than ever" that any attainment gaps found in GCSE results are "carefully monitored". By Matilda Martin, Tes.

The Telegraph reports independent schools have seen a bigger drop in top GCSE grades than state schools. By Louisa Clarence-Smith and Alex Clark. The article quotes ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon, who says: "That this drop is greater than some other types of school is expected because independent school students are more clustered at the top end of grade scale where there has been most grade deflation."

According to The Times, London has seen the biggest growth in terms of top grades, with a 6.9 percentage point increase on 2019. By Nicola Woolcock and Ryan Watts.

The Times reports on survey findings from Teacher Tapp, which suggest more than two fifths of teachers are now in favour of reforming GCSEs. By Nicola Woolcock.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, has warned that GCSE pupils whose education has been affected by school closures during the pandemic are at risk of dropping out of sixth form if they find their courses to be too difficult. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Schools Week summarises eight key trends in England's GCSE results data. By Samantha Booth.