GCSE results day: Half of music students achieve top grades

GCSE Music students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are celebrating their results today as 88.4 per cent of this year’s cohort come away with 4 (C) or above. 

After another turbulent year in education, 2021’s GCSE grades have been determined by teachers with guidance from exam boards and school-wide systems. 

Just over 39,000 students sat GCSE Music, compared to 38,569 in 2020 and 38,511 in 2019, accounting for 0.7 per cent of GCSE entries, according to provisional data from Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). Despite this year's slight increase, GCSE entries have fallen by 19 per cent since 2011 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Half (50.6 per cent) of students taking Music this year achieved grades 7-9 (A-A*), compared to 46.6 per cent in 2020 and 32.7 per cent in 2019, when exams went ahead as usual. 

This year’s percentage (88.4) receiving 4-9 (C-A*) is similar to 89.7 per cent in 2020, but is significantly higher than in 2019, when 76.7 per cent achieved a 4 or above.

'Pupils deserve huge credit'

As with A Level results day earlier this week, school leaders are warning against direct comparisons with previous years, emphasising instead that the results are a ‘fair and accurate reflection’ of young people’s performance. 

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said: ‘These pupils deserve huge credit for having weathered the storm of the past 18 months to emerge with qualifications of which they can be justly proud.’

He added: ‘It is important to emphasise that the system of teacher assessment under which these pupils have been assessed is different from public exams and is therefore not directly comparable.’ 

Speaking on behalf of school leaders’ union NAHT, general secretary Paul Whiteman said: ‘School and college staff have gone above and beyond in order to make the system fair and robust this year.

‘Grades have been arrived at in a completely unique way, so it would not be sensible to compare this year’s results with any other, and any talk of ‘grade inflation’ is unhelpful to students. This year’s results are based on a portfolio of evidence completed by students which has been marked, moderated and quality assured by teachers, school leaders and exam boards.’

Fears over next steps

Many students receiving results today (12 August) will be going on to study A Levels and BTECs, although both options for music have recently raised concern, with A Level Music entries declining and some BTECs and other vocational qualifications set to be scrapped. There are also continued fears over the lack of creative subjects in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which many cite as a reason behind the steady decline in GCSE and A Level Music entries. 

Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), said on GCSE results day: 'Despite the mounting evidence, the government continues to preside over a dramatic decline in music education and is clinging onto its EBacc agenda, no matter the consequences. It’s time for urgent reform of the EBacc to include music and creative subjects, or it should be scrapped altogether.

'High quality music education should be available to all students and the government must work to ensure that they do as an urgent priority. Only by fully embracing music and creative subjects can we build an education system fit for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.'

Commenting on GCSE results day, education secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘Students should feel proud of their achievements and will now be looking forward to taking their next steps. I am also hugely grateful to teachers and school leaders for their hard work to ensure students get the grades they deserve and need to progress to the next stage of their lives.

‘There have never been so many great options available for young people, whether that’s going on to study A Levels, our pioneering T Levels, starting an apprenticeship or a traineeship. Whatever option young people choose, they can do so with the confidence it will give them the skills and knowledge to get on in life.’ 

Find the full breakdown of GCSE results at JCQ.