On 24th August 2017, pupils received their GCSE results – which included the first set of results for English and maths under the new grading system. These new qualifications, designed to be more demanding, will see pupils achieve grades on a new 9-1 scale – with the Government defining a grade 5 as a ‘strong pass’.

In this major report, in partnership with UCL Institute of Education, we have identified what these new grades mean in terms of a world class education system and how far education in England needs to improve to match the highest performing countries in the world.