The government has welcomed the biggest improvement in GCSE results for five years.

The number of A*-C grades achieved by 16-year-olds went up by 1.1 points to 59.2 per cent, it was revealed on Thursday.

The rise was the largest since 1999 and more than five times as big as last year's increase of 0.2 per cent.

While the proportion of A*-G pass grades remained at 97.6 per cent, ministers were pleased that this did not fall as a result of a higher number of exams being taken.

Government Response: Department for Education and Skills

School standards minister David Miliband said: "The results are excellent and reflect the hard work of pupils and teachers. More pupils have taken GCSEs and more pupils are doing well.

"It is encouraging that more pupils are taking maths and gaining good grades. This mirrors the rise in maths in this week's results for 14 year olds. I know that many employers have expressed concern about maths so I hope they will work with us to build on this year's results.

"It is also good to see more pupils taking science. Entries for chemistry, physics and biology are all up, for both boys and girls.

"Boys are catching up but there is still work to be done. We will carry on with our programmes like Playing for Success, the successful after school sport study clubs programme, to bridge the gap. I know schools are working hard to help boys do better each year.

"One of the goals of our five year strategy is to improve post-16 education and training. The good news for GCSE students is that for the first time this September, Education Maintenance Allowance will be available nationally to help them stay on in education, at school or college."

Liberal Democrat Response

Phil Willis, education spokesman, said: "Whilst GCSE results remain top priority for the government, for young people and employers they are becoming an increasing irrelevance.

"What the country requires is an examination system that is fit for purpose in the 21st century where national standards in key areas such as literacy and numeracy can be obtained when students are ready to meet them.

"The current system is doing absolutely nothing for 50 per cent of our young people who do not achieve five A*-Cs and who need a radically different curriculum.

"At the other end of the spectrum, the current system is holding back highly talented young people who should be working at levels much higher than A* GCSE."

Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers
 
Dr Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said: "We congratulate all those students who have gained passes in their GCSEs. Whether they go on to further education, or into the world of work, they know that they have 'under their belt' valuable qualifications which will open the doors to future possibilities.

"The girls' all-round great performance is really encouraging. In five year's time there should be some first-rate workers on their way to cheer up the employers.

"We await with interest the findings of the Tomlinson report into 14-19 education. Central to these proposals must be the development of a curriculum offer and an assessment package which is attractive to even more young people and which rewards them for the development of a wide range of skills and abilities. We cannot afford to 'write off' the talents of any students at such a young age."

Stakeholder Response: National Union of Teachers

Steve Sinnott, NUT general secretary, said: "All the carping critics can't get around the fact that our young people and their teachers have worked enormously hard and achieved improving levels of success.

"The continuing disparity in performance between boys and girls remains worrying, and is something which the Tomlinson review of 14-19 education must take on board. Teachers do their best to motivate boys but parents have a vital role in encouraging their sons' enthusiasm to achieve particularly in subjects such as English.

"It is a matter of deep concern that the number of entries for geography, German and French has gone down. This is a direct result of the government lifting the requirement that a foreign language and geography are taught at Key Stage 4.

"All youngsters should have a broad and balance curriculum. Indeed, it is mostly through modern foreign languages and geography that young people can gain an understanding of the wider world - vital in today’s world economy."

Stakeholder Response: National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers

Chris Keates, acting general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "The GCSE results show an increase in students gaining the top grades A*-A and a rise in those securing grade C and above, once again reflecting the hard work of pupils and the commitment and dedication of teachers.

"Although there is no change overall in the percentage of A*-G grades the results demonstrate a sustained high level of achievement and provide no basis for the churlish nitpicking in which undoubtedly some critics will be tempted to indulge.

"I sincerely hope that, just for once, they allow the pupils and teachers to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

"Despite the best efforts of teachers, the discrepancy in the levels of achievement between boys and girls continues.

"Clearly this has to be addressed. Schools already use a range of strategies in their efforts to bridge the gap but the x-factor which may make the difference remains elusive. Let's hope the Tomlinson review of 14-19 education provides the key."

Stakeholder Response: Secondary Heads Association

Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the SHA, said: "Students and teachers are to be congratulated on improving the GCSE pass rate at grades A* to C again this year and in maintaining the A* to G pass rate.

"The decrease in the number of entries at GCSE (full course and short course) in French and German is worrying, but represents a trend that will become very much worse in 2005 and 2006, as the government decision to make modern languages voluntary for 14 and 15 year olds takes effect.

"Schools have put a lot of work into raising boys' achievement and this is now being reflected in a narrowing of the gap between boys and girls at grades A* to C.

"The A* to C pass rate is very similar for boys and girls at mathematics and it is particularly pleasing that boys have narrowed the gap in English, where girls have been a long way ahead of boys for many years."

Stakeholder Response: Institute of Directors

Richard Wilson, head of business policy at the Institute of Directors, said: "Employers will welcome the rise in top pass grades, together with the increase in the proportion of pupils taking GCSEs in traditional science subjects such as chemistry, physics and biology. 

"However, the fact remains that too many children leave school with low levels of literacy and numeracy.

"The GCSE results show that almost half of pupils are failing to achieve at least a 'C' grade in maths and 40 per cent are failing to reach this level in English.

"The government needs to continue to focus on improving standards of literacy and numeracy in schools and raising the proportion of pupils qualified in GCSE English and mathematics, without undermining standards.

"Unless pupils leave school with a good grounding in basic skills they will find it harder to find employment and employers will be faced with skill shortages and skill gaps."

Stakeholder Response: The Prince's Trust

Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince's Trust, said: "While offering congratulations to those that have passed their GCSEs today, the number of young people continuing to leave education with no or low qualifications is worrying.

"Our own research shows that young people's biggest barrier to success is their lack of qualifications. 

"We are delighted that the government, through its review of 14-19 education, is now considering adopting a more flexible approach, along similar lines to The Prince's Trust's own xl clubs for pupils at risk of exclusion.

"Almost two in five of all the young people helped by The Prince's Trust last year had few or no qualifications."

Stakeholder Response: Institute of Education

Dr Ann Hodgson and Dr Ken Spours of the Institute of Education said: "This year's GCSE results are cause for celebration both in terms of the rise in the pass rate and in the number of learners gaining higher grades.

"Learners and teachers are both to be congratulated. However, beneath the surface of these results, we see three major problems.

"Nearly half of all 16 year olds do not gain the five A*-C grades required for progression to advanced level study – many of them actually feel they have failed their GCSEs. 

"Fewer than 40 per cent of those taking GCSEs gain good grades in both English and maths.

"The focus on passing examinations (fuelled by school league tables) has made GCSE study boring for many. Our research suggests that neither learners nor teachers support the kind of 'spoon feeding' that GCSEs encourage.

"The Tomlinson diploma proposals could potentially address all three – young people will be able to progress at their own pace without feeling a failure at 16; functional maths, English and ICT will have to be attained to gain a diploma; learners will take fewer subjects, leaving space to focus on research topics of their choice.

"They will be able to learn more about working life and the wider community and to develop the independent learning skills needed for progression to advanced level study."