Languages were less harshly graded at GCSE this year, but there is still some way to go
GCSEs in modern foreign languages have historically been severely graded. We look to see if anything has changed with the introduction of new specifications.
GCSE and Level 1/2 results 2026: The main trends in grades and entries
Our round up of everything you need to know about the 2026 results.
Five things to look out for on GCSE results day
Our usual round-up of everything we'll be looking out for on GCSE results day 2026
Caution when interpreting value added scores in languages at Key Stage 4
We recommend some changes to the languages value added measure published in secondary school performance tables to reflect the languages entered by pupils
Changes in schools’ Progress 8 scores over time
A look at how the Progress 8 scores of schools have changed since the measure was introduced, including breakdowns by region, school type, and school-level disadvantage
Languages are still harshly graded at GCSE
On average, pupils tend to achieve almost a grade lower in French, German and Spanish compared to English and maths
Revisiting subject difficulty at Key Stage 4
We revisit a previous blog looking at points awarded in different subjects relative to English and maths. We find little change compared to pre-pandemic times.
A quick overview of FFT estimates for secondary schools
We discuss where secondary FFT estimates come from, and look at some of their uses and limitations
Why don’t more pupils study modern foreign languages at GCSE?
We look at how entry numbers for GCSEs in modern foreign languages have changed over the last few years