§ 22. Andy BurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the latest set of GCSE results. [14652]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe statistics published by the Department on 20 November show that 50.0 per cent. of 15-year-olds gained at least five top grades this year. We have, therefore, met the Government's target—for 50 per cent. of 15-year-olds to achieve five GCSE grades A*-C by 2002—a year early. This is a result of pupils working hard, and of the first class support they receive from teachers. There are many new policies to tackle underachievement in schools and these are feeding through now into more candidates achieving better GCSEs.