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| GCSE pass rate shows slight rise | GCSE pass rate shows slight rise |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The percentage of pupils passing GCSEs in Wales has risen and almost everyone who has taken the exam this year has been awarded a grade. | |
| The results show an overall pass rate at grades A star to G of 98.4%, up 0.4% on last year. | The results show an overall pass rate at grades A star to G of 98.4%, up 0.4% on last year. |
| Those getting A* to C grades have also gone up to 65% an increase of 2%. | Those getting A* to C grades have also gone up to 65% an increase of 2%. |
| Compared to the rest of the UK, Wales has produced slightly lower A* to C grades but the overall pass rate is the same as that of UK as a whole. | Compared to the rest of the UK, Wales has produced slightly lower A* to C grades but the overall pass rate is the same as that of UK as a whole. |
| The number of pupils achieving the top A* to A marks are also up by 0.3% on last year to 18.9%. But this is 1.8% down on the UK figure. | The number of pupils achieving the top A* to A marks are also up by 0.3% on last year to 18.9%. But this is 1.8% down on the UK figure. |
| The percentage achieving A* was 6.1% compared with 6.3% last year. | The percentage achieving A* was 6.1% compared with 6.3% last year. |
| Education Minister Jane Hutt said Welsh students "have every reason to celebrate". | Education Minister Jane Hutt said Welsh students "have every reason to celebrate". |
| "They should all be very proud of their achievements as should their parents and teachers. | "They should all be very proud of their achievements as should their parents and teachers. |
| This is a really significant achievement for these young people and I congratulate them all Jane Hutt, Education Minister | This is a really significant achievement for these young people and I congratulate them all Jane Hutt, Education Minister |
| "A further increase in the overall pass rate is especially pleasing and I am pleased that we continue to increase the proportion of entries resulting in a grade C or above." | "A further increase in the overall pass rate is especially pleasing and I am pleased that we continue to increase the proportion of entries resulting in a grade C or above." |
| But once again, girls are outperforming the boys at all grades. | But once again, girls are outperforming the boys at all grades. |
| The percentage of females achieving Grades A* to A is 21.6% compared to males achieving 16.2%. | The percentage of females achieving Grades A* to A is 21.6% compared to males achieving 16.2%. |
| For grades A* to C the percentage of females gaining these grades is 68.6% whereas for males it is 61.4%. | For grades A* to C the percentage of females gaining these grades is 68.6% whereas for males it is 61.4%. |
| Of the total entry in Wales for GCSE full courses (310,089) there are about 6,000 more entries made by girls. | Of the total entry in Wales for GCSE full courses (310,089) there are about 6,000 more entries made by girls. |
| Foreign language | Foreign language |
| There are also worries about the future of foreign language teaching which have been fuelled by the news that the numbers taking French has fallen once again. Meanwhile, media studies have increased by 14%. | There are also worries about the future of foreign language teaching which have been fuelled by the news that the numbers taking French has fallen once again. Meanwhile, media studies have increased by 14%. |
| Ms Hutt also highlighted that more than a thousand key stage 4 students (aged 14 to 16) had been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma at either foundation or intermediate level. | Ms Hutt also highlighted that more than a thousand key stage 4 students (aged 14 to 16) had been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma at either foundation or intermediate level. |
| In key stage four, 77% of the intermediate level candidates achieved the core certificate and 75% achieved the full intermediate diploma. At foundation level 72% achieved the core certificate and 68% achieved the full foundation diploma. | In key stage four, 77% of the intermediate level candidates achieved the core certificate and 75% achieved the full intermediate diploma. At foundation level 72% achieved the core certificate and 68% achieved the full foundation diploma. |
| The key stage four results are the first Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification results for students in this age group. | The key stage four results are the first Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification results for students in this age group. |
| "This is a really significant achievement for these young people and I congratulate them all," she said. | "This is a really significant achievement for these young people and I congratulate them all," she said. |
| "The results bode well for the future of this qualification, as we prepare for roll-out of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification at foundation level and in key stage four (age range 14 to 16)." | "The results bode well for the future of this qualification, as we prepare for roll-out of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification at foundation level and in key stage four (age range 14 to 16)." |
| The official results were published at 0930 BST. | The official results were published at 0930 BST. |