Round Up: Results Day 2023
Wow, what an incredible eight days it has been! On August 17 we had the pleasure of watching thousands of students across the North East open their A-Level, T Level, and BTec results; on August 25, GCSE results followed.
Firstly, we want to say another huge ‘congratulations’ to all students and staff on their outstanding results this year. Here’s a recap of some of the region’s highlights:
A Level
22% received an A or A* grade
6.4% achieved an A*
GCSE
65.3% of GCSE students received a grade 4 or above
17.6% received a 7 or above
Considering the hugely disrupted education that these cohorts have had to endure in recent times, these results are fantastic.
And the positivity doesn’t stop there.
The excellent results across the North East have risen 1.2 per cent since 2019, before the pandemic, at 7 and above and 1.5 per cent at 4 and above, which are the third biggest improvements in those GCSE grades across all regions.
We’re certainly moving in the right direction, which is a testament to the hard work and determination of North East pupils and staff. The progress of our schools compared to other English regions is outstanding, especially in the context of the last three years and the impact of covid and more on our schools.
That being said, we cannot overlook the fact that this year’s exam results continue to map the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on our region’s schools and young people, and the failure of government ‘catch-up’ policies to impact on the most deprived areas, like the North East.
Of course, we should absolutely celebrate our successes as a region, but our triumphs shouldn’t overshadow the fact that the North East still has the lowest rates of students receiving top grades for both GCSEs and A Levels. And therefore urgent action is needed to support our schools as they deserve.
Read our full A Level, T Level, and BTec Results 2023 press release here.
Read our full GCSE Results 2023 press release here.
As seen on…
Schools North East is the glue that keeps our region’s schools together; understandably, then, we’ve had an exceptionally busy eight days!
You might have seen and/or heard Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, on Sky News, Times Radio, Look North, and BBC Radio; as well as in the Chronicle, the Independent, the Observer, Tes, the Telegraph, and more.
Schools North East exists to give North East schools a voice and provide a bridge between them and policymakers. The reporting of Chris across these various forms of media helped amplify the concerns of North East schools about the support they need from the government.
Listen to Chris’s interview on Times Radio here (Starts at 1 minute 56 seconds).
On a regional and national scale, Chris shed light on the fact that significant challenges remain, despite the positive results we’ve seen across the North East these past 8 days.
Education recovery policies have been too focused on London, and if we continue implementing ‘one size fits all’ policies, there’s a risk of widening the gap between the North East and London even further.
Policymakers must now address the ongoing, long term impact of the pandemic, and the wider challenges of educational inequalities.
Our 2019 ‘Manifesto for North East Education’ urged all political parties to recognise regional contexts and develop a long-term approach to education policy. These principles remain as relevant in 2023 as they were in 2019.
The Government must take action that encompasses a long term strategic plan; better capacity and strategic infrastructure around schools, and offers proper finance and resources for our schools.
And who knows? Maybe this time next year we’ll see policy fit for our region’s amazing schools and young people.
