In a review of policy, the Department for Education has announced that the GCSE grade 4 will be reported in performance tables as a “standard pass”.  

This contrasts with its earlier position where the grade 5 was identified as the headline performance table measure for 2017 and 2018.

However, the grade 5 will also be reported, but as a “strong pass”.

Under the new grading system, a grade 4 and above will be equivalent to the current C and above. This is – and will remain – the level that pupils must achieve in order not to be required to continue studying English and maths post 16.