Wynne Hindle, a 52-year-old grandmother from Sudbury, Suffolk, has passed GCSE maths on her fifth attempt. The mother-of-three achieved a grade four pass, marking the culmination of four years of effort.
She sat her first GCSEs in the 2022-23 academic year and passed the exam while studying at the West Suffolk College adult learning centre in Bury St Edmunds.
Determination to succeed
The former nanny and nursery nurse is now aiming to work in a school. "I just wanted to achieve something and I'm a resilient person," said Ms Hindle. "I find it hard to quit so I just kept going. This is part of a journey to working at a primary school as a teaching assistant or a learning support officer. I was very happy and shocked to pass."
She added: "I'd like to say a very big thank-you to the college and particularly to my tutor. My message to other (adult learners) is to keep at it."
National results overview
Students across the country discovered their results on Thursday morning (August 20). All year 11 students are able to view their results in an app for the first time this summer following a successful trial last year. The proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has risen from last year. More than a fifth (22.0%) of UK entries were awarded the top grades, at least a 7 or an A grade, up by 0.1 percentage points on last year.
The figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cover GCSE entries from students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The number of entries getting at least a 4 or a C grade – considered a 'standard pass' – has fallen from 67.4% in 2025 to 67.3% this year.
Gender gap narrowing
Boys have continued to close the gender gap as nearly a quarter (24.4%) of girls' GCSE entries were awarded at least a grade 7/A compared with almost a fifth of boys' entries (19.6%). This 4.8 percentage point gap is down from a difference of 5.1 last year.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Congratulations to everyone collecting their results today, you should be proud of the hard work that got you here. Whether the next step is sixth form, a college course, an apprenticeship, a T Level, work, or something else entirely, we're ensuring that there are more opportunities than ever to choose your own path to get on in life. I'm determined to bring back hope and give every young person the chance to fulfil their potential."
Another success story
James Auger, 16, who was raised in Singapore, celebrated picking up 11 grade nines in his GCSEs. Arriving in the UK just two years ago, he joined Year 10 of Conyers School in Yarm, Teesside. Taking on 12 GCSEs, James got top marks in 11 of them. He helped his studies taking part in the Comprehensive Oxford Mathematics and Physics Online School, joining weekly tutorials and completing extra assignments.
"I enjoy maths and it opens up a lot of opportunities. After my A-levels, the dream would be to go to Oxford University and then become an A-level teacher or professor. I'm also musical and love to sing, classical and pop, and I'd like to get involved in performing arts," he said.
