Overall GCSE outcomes have remained stable in recent years and this trend continued in summer 2018.

In total, 23 reformed GCSE subjects graded 9-1 were available in 2018.

Small numbers of candidates achieved a grade 9, designed to recognise the very highest performing students. Only 732 students achieved 7 or more grade 9s, with girls performing better than boys at the highest grade. The average number of reformed GCSEs taken by 16 year-olds was 7.46.

Ahead of maths and English this year, the science double award had the greatest number of entries with 14.6% of the total GCSE entries. Separate sciences – biology, chemistry and physics - all saw increases in entries this year.

GCSE subjects in decline included design and technology, religious studies, French and performing arts.

For post-16 students, English entries were up and maths entries were down when compared with 2017.

This year, only 22% of post-16 students achieved a grade 4 or higher in maths, with 33% achieving this pass grade in English Language.

Statistics covering the whole of the UK by subject, grade and gender are available on the JCQ website.

For further exploration of results trends, Ofqual has produced an analytics tool including an interactive map of England showing GCSE results in different subjects by grade and county.