GCSE results for this year subject by subject

Top state and independent schools at A-level and GCSE - interactive table

State grammars edged ahead of independent schools in GCSE performance this year, as national figures showed that nearly a fifth of entries achieved an A or A* grade for the first time.

The proportion of entries achieving A* to C grades rose from 62.4 to 63.3 per cent. However, the overall pass rate, measured by a minimum of a grade G, slipped slightly from 98.1 to 98 per cent, suggesting that while schools may have succeeded in lifting D-grade candidates to a C, they have done less well with the least able.

Ministers and teaching unions congratulated students, attributing the rises in A* to C grades to improved teaching and learning. But employers expressed concern about the fall in the numbers of pupils taking languages and private schools furiously defended their record.

For the first time, grammar pupils scored more A and A* grades than independent schools. In grammars, 51.5 per cent of exam entries were awarded the top grades, a rise from 49.8 per cent two years ago. In the independent sector 50.8 per cent of exams taken by pupils achieved As or A*s, down from 51.7 per cent in 2005.

In state comprehensives, 15.3 per cent of exams were awarded As or A*s, up from 14.1 per cent in 2005.

Mike Cresswell, director general of the exam board, said that, as with A levels, the difference in performance of different types of school showed there was no overall erosion in standards. “For the last two years, grade As are going down in the independent sector. In comprehensives it has been going up,” he said. “At grade C, comprehensives have shown the biggest improvements since 2002, while grade C results in the independent sector have been falling.”

The Independent Schools Council criticised Dr Cresswell’s analysis and pointed out that many independent schools were not selective. A spokesman argued that the drop in the proportion of exam entries scoring the top grades was also due to the fact many private schools were abandoning GCSEs in favour of the tougher International GCSEs (IGCSEs), which are not included in the figures.

The national results for 750,000 candidates revealed another slump in the numbers of pupils taking French and German, while entries in history also fell this year.

John Dunford, of the Association of School and College Lecturers, said employers must bear a substantial responsibility for the fall in modern language numbers. “Until they send out a much stronger message to young people that languages are important in the job market, GCSE numbers will continue to be low and British industry will continue to struggle to compete in a global market,” he said.

There was better news for sciences, with increases in the numbers taking separate courses in physics, biology and chemistry this year.

Times Recommends

• Margot Fonteyn: In her footsteps
• Forget beautiful people, let's have wonky Brits
• Fundamentalist brew: faith and power