Sussex students celebrate GCSE results

Alice Otis and Flynn were pleased with their results at Downlands Community School

Students from across Sussex have been receiving their GCSE results, as the pass rate has fallen again nationally.

The overall pass rate across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has returned to levels last seen in 2019 - the last year exams were sat before Covid.

In East Sussex 5.6% of pupils received top grade results and in West Sussex that figure was 4.2%.

The average figure for top grades England-wide was 5%.

James, 16, from Arundel, said he was "overall quite pleased" but "slightly disappointed with my English result".

He said: "I put a lot of work into the exams, substantially more than the mocks as I felt I could level up my game."

• Follow live updates on this story

• Everything you need to know on grade boundaries and appeals

• How does the 9-1 grading system work and what are the equivalents?

• What are BTecs and how are they graded?

• 'There’s life beyond GCSEs – even if you don’t pass'

• 'I got no GCSEs and cleaned pubs - now I'm a uni lecturer'

At Downlands Community School in Hassocks Otis opened his results live on BBC Radio Sussex.

He said: "I'm so happy. I was expecting three fails and it didn't happen."

Fellow pupil Flynn said: "I'm buzzing. I'm very, very happy.

"I'm over the moon. I couldn't be happier."

Alice said: "I was really nervous. I could barely open my results.

"But I'm really happy now."

Ian and Humreen opened their results at Eastbourne College

Eastbourne College said it was celebrating a record number of pupils achieving top grades.

A total of 21 pupils accomplished a clean sweep of grades 7 to 9 in every subject.

Head teacher Tom Lawson said: “The school could not be prouder of this fantastic group of pupils."

National figures show 67.6% of all grades were at 4/C and above, down from 67.8% in 2023.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.