There were tears and celebrations as pupils across Oxfordshire received their GCSE results.

More than 60,000 teens up and down the county nervously opened large, white envelopes yesterday morning (August 25) which contained their exam results.

Across the country, top grades for GCSEs are down on last year – but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.

READ MORE: GCSE results day: Pupils across Bicester celebrate their GCSE results

Figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) – covering GCSE entries from students predominantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – showed top grades of 7/A have fallen from 28.9 per cent in 2021 to 26.3 per cent this year, a drop of 2.6 percentage points.

The proportion of entries receiving a 4/C – considered a pass – dropped from 77.1 per cent in 2021 to 73.2 per cent this year, a fall of 3.9 percentage points, but higher than 67.3 per cent in 2019.

The overall rate for grades 1/G or above is 98.4 per cent, down from 99.0 per cent in 2021 but slightly above 98.3 per cent in 2019.

Girls continued their lead over boys this year, with 30.0 per cent of entries achieving a 7/A, compared with 22.6 per cent for males.

The gap has closed slightly from last year, when 33.4 per cent of female entries were awarded 7/A or above compared with 24.4 per cent for males, a lead of 9.0 percentage points.

Schools minister Will Quince has insisted closing the attainment gap is a “huge priority” for the Government, as Labour accused the Tories of having “failed” children amid regional disparities in results.

Can you spot yourself in our GCSE results gallery? Check out the images above.

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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