GCSE Results Day 2025
Published 21st August 2025
Today is an important milestone for students across the country as Level One and Two results are released. First, let’s take a moment to celebrate their efforts. If the grades in those envelopes are what was hoped for, that is fantastic and well done for the hard work that made it possible. If things did not quite go to plan, this is not the end of the road. Take time to pause, reflect, and think about what could be done differently next time. These results do not define anyone’s future; they are just one step in a much bigger journey.
But today is not only about students. It is also about the teachers who make these results possible. The last few years have been far from easy, and design and technology has faced some unique challenges. What continues to shine through is the skill, determination and care you show in supporting your students. From guiding them through the NEA to inspiring them to see the value of our subject, your impact is clear. Before the whirlwind of September and a new academic year arrives, please take a moment to recognise and celebrate what you and your departments have achieved.
And now, to the results themselves...
The headline figures for design and technology show a very small decline in the number of subject entries from 86,607 last year to 86,307 this year (a 0.35% decrease). This is the first time in the last three years that our entry numbers have dropped. I am having difficulty reconciling the JCQ statistics for the male/female breakdown in the UK overall, as the numbers don’t appear to add up correctly as published. It does look like there is a minimal decrease in the number of boys taking the subject and a slightly larger, and if correct, a slight but worrying decline in the number of girls taking D&T.
The good news is that whilst the number of entries overall has seen a slight decrease, there has been an improvement in grades across the board (0.6 increase in grade 7 and above), (0.9 increase in grade 4 and above) and (a 0.2 increase in the grade 1 and above figure).
Engineering figures continue to be small in comparison and sadly reduced further by almost 18% (from 3,018 in 2024 to 2,476 this year). Despite this decline in numbers, grades here also increased (3.2% grade 7 and above), (6.3% grade 4 or above) and (1.0% grade 1 or above).
The number of girls taking engineering GCSE also fell from 491 in 2024 to 431 this year, (a 12.2% decrease, but admittedly on very small numbers).
As students reflect on their results today, we want to congratulate every student collecting results and, at the same time say thank you to every teacher who has made this progress possible. Your work matters. You are shaping futures, inspiring creativity, and keeping design and technology alive and thriving in schools across the UK.
Tony Ryan
Chief Executive Officer
Design & Technology Association
