GCSEs: Fewer Jersey pupils getting five A* to C grades

About 1,000 pupils sat GCSE exams in Jersey in 2012

The number of Jersey pupils who got A* to C in at least five GCSEs, including English and maths, has fallen.

This year 54% of pupils in Jersey achieved that mark, compared with 58% in 2011.

In Guernsey, 65.7% of pupils got A* to C in at least five GCSEs, including the two core subjects.

Jersey's Director of Education Mario Lundy said: "I think there's a problem because they are down, the question is what is the problem?"

He said it could be a result of tougher and more stringent marking, but would not want to use that as an excuse.

He said: "We would always want to be driving up standards and finding more effective ways to teach students and help them achieve what they should achieve."

Mr Lundy said there would be an investigation into why fewer pupils had achieved the grades.