'Standard' and 'Strong' GCSE Passes

• A new GCSE grade 4 will be called a standard pass. For students, a grade 4 standard pass or above marks a similar level of achievement to a current grade c or above.
• Students achieving grade 4 or above in English and Maths will not be required to continue to study these subjects post-16.
• A new GCSE grade 5 or above will be called a strong pass. For schools, the proportion of students achieving a grade 5 or above strong pass in English and Maths will be one of the headline performance measures.
• The Government will also publish GCSE performance measures at grade 4 and above. The Government will no longer be reporting on the 'good pass' in school performance tables.