Gender and deprivation continue to strongly influence GCSE outcomes, according to Sky News analysis released as over one million students received their results.

Grades remain broadly stable post-pandemic, but failure rates in compulsory English and Maths are at their highest in a decade, raising concerns about core subject attainment.

Attainment gaps persist: 48.1% of exams at fee-paying schools achieved grade 7 or above, compared to just 18.2% at non-selective state schools, highlighting stark disparities.

Regional differences are also evident, with 28.4% of exams in London awarded grade 7 or higher, compared to only 17.8% in the North East.

Girls continue to outperform boys at the top grade levels. Among students eligible for free school meals, White British, Black Caribbean, and mixed heritage boys show particularly low pass rates, underscoring the intersection of race, gender, and poverty in educational outcomes.