Fall in GCSE results amid teacher shortages and exam changes

Durham County Council says the outcomes of its 16-year-olds fell “significantly”, with the number of teenagers achieving at least A* to C in English and maths almost six per cent below the national average.

Across the country, there was a small improvement among pupils.

A report by the authority says the drop is mainly due to maths results.

It says recruitment of maths teachers is “virtually stagnant”, with many classes taught by supply teachers in 2016/17 because schools are struggling to fill vacancies.

In 2017 there were significant changes to the way GCSEs are graded.

The report says: “Schools in Durham were unready to respond to a rapidly changed examination and assessment system. The implications of not moving fast enough to adopt a new approach has only been grasped by the majority of school leaders after this first set of outcomes has exposed the weaknesses of these historically adopted approaches.”

In the past, Durham’s GCSE success has been put down to school’s ability to provide a tailored curriculum that met the needs of most pupils.

Since 2017, local authority advisors have led strategic subject reviews in English, maths, science, foreign languages, geography and history to try and address outcome deficiencies.

Since 2017, local authority advisors have led strategic subject reviews in English, maths, science, foreign languages, geography and history to try and address outcome deficiencies.

The council has also looked at pupil progress at other stages, with Early Years development in County Durham was above the national for the first time since 2014.

In previous years, County Durham children fell below the national average due to low levels of speech and language development in some areas of highest deprivation.

Current results are due to targeted support and intervention by the council's early years team, the report says.

Achievement at key stages two, three and five are also above average.