The GCSE results in England this year have revealed a widening gap in performance between the South and the rest of the country.

London Leading, West Midlands Lagging

London continues to be the highest-performing region, with 72.5% of GCSE entries graded at 4/C or above. In contrast, the West Midlands has the lowest pass rate, with 63.1% of entries achieving the same grades. This represents a significant gap of 9.4 percentage points, an increase from 8.7 percentage points last year and 6.8 percentage points in 2019.

North-South Divide Worsens

The 2024 results indicate that the north-south divide, which existed before the pandemic, has been exacerbated. While every region in the South has seen an improvement in pass rates compared to 2019, four out of five regions in the North and Midlands have experienced a decline.

The Northern Powerhouse, a body focused on boosting the Northern economy, attributes these regional disparities to the "differences... in the proportions of long-term disadvantaged children by region."

Impact of the Pandemic

These GCSE students experienced a unique educational journey, having spent their entire secondary education during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic disrupted children's education in varying ways, influenced by factors such as the severity of regional outbreaks and access to technology for remote learning.

Experts have warned that it could take up to a decade to mitigate the pandemic's impact and close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

Concerns from Education Professionals

Education professionals have expressed concerns about the widening regional inequalities, attributing them to the pandemic and inadequate school funding.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, argues that schools are doing their best to support pupils but cannot address these disparities alone, stating, "Unfortunately, the previous government failed to provide anything like the resources needed."

Chris Zarraga, director of Schools North East, highlights that the results reflect the "disproportionate impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crises, as well as the long-term perennial educational challenges that regions like the north-east face."

National GCSE Trends

Overall, the GCSE pass rate in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland has fallen for the third consecutive year, returning to 2019 levels. This year, 67.6% of entries were graded at 4/C or above, compared to 68.2% last year.

While the pass rates rose in 2020 and 2021 due to the cancellation of exams, this year's decline was more pronounced in Wales and Northern Ireland than in England, where grades were brought back in line with pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

Government Response

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged the issue, stating his commitment to ensuring that "everyone's path is determined by their talent, skills, and ambition, not where you come from."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also recognized the uneven distribution of results across the country, affirming the government's determination to provide equal opportunities for all young people, regardless of their location.