GCSE Results Day 2026

Published 20th August 2026

Young people this morning will receive their GCSEs and results of level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications, either in person or, for some, through the new ‘Education Record’ app. Technology inevitably changes, but whether it’s opening an envelope or clicking a screen, the mixture of nerves, jubilation and, for some, disappointment will be felt across households and schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland this year, just as it has in all previous years.

Before analysing the results for D&T, this morning will be awash with people from a range of sectors, advising that GCSEs do not determine your future – and they are right. I’m not sure I have ever spoken to anyone, certainly in design, technology and manufacture, who had a ‘linear’ path to their current position. Life, and success, is far more than a set of numbers. There will be highs, lows, and decisions to make at various steps along the way.

Today is about reflection. Whether you're celebrating the reward of years of hard work or taking a moment to think about the exciting future ahead, it is just one step in a much bigger journey. In this, I purposely include teachers also. The support you provide, the hours you put in, and the emotional rollercoaster you go through should never be underestimated. Thank you on behalf of the subject, and I hope you can enjoy the last few days of a well-deserved holiday.

And so, to the results themselves.

D&T

For a second consecutive year, GCSE D&T entries have fallen, to 84,320, down from 86,307 in 2025 (a 2.3% decrease). This decrease has been most noticeable among girls, with over 7% fewer opting for D&T in 2026 (24,191) than in 2025 (26,033).

Among boys, the figure fell slightly, by only 145 students, nationally from 60,274 in 2025 to 60,129 this year.

Grades were roughly in line with 2025, down 0.1% for top grades; 22.8% of entrants were awarded a Grade 7+ (above the national average of 22%). For Grades 4+, they were down only 0.2% from 2025, to 66.9% (above the national average of 67.3%), whilst overall pass rates remained the same.

Engineering

Entries in Engineering also fell to 2,250, compared to 2,476 last year. Despite this decline in numbers, grades generally increased (98.5% gained a Grade 1+ (an increase in 0.5%), 64% of students obtained a 4+ (up from 61.5%) and 18.1% gained a Grade 7 or above (a slight decrease of 0.1%).

Food Preparation & Nutrition

Entries fell slightly for a second consecutive year, with 59,103 entries in 2026, compared to 59,987 last year. The number of boys opting to take Food Preparation and Nutrition rose slightly in 2026 to 24,732 from 24,168, while the number of girls fell to 34,371 from 35,819 in 2025.

Grades increased, however, with Level 7+ up 0.5% to 21.8%, Grade 4+ up 0.9% to 69.5% of all entries, and we saw a 0.1% decrease to 99.2% for overall passes.

Gender Split

Scrolling down the JCQ data for gender splits of all subjects shows we still have a way to go to highlight the benefits of many of our D&T-related subjects to girls and other stakeholders. We all know the benefits of taking our subjects, what a rich, rewarding career they can lead to, and the opportunities they can open. We will continue to work closely with business, industry and a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure we close this gap.

2026 results aren’t exactly where we wanted to be as a subject, but as mentioned previously, the path is rarely linear, and a single set of figures certainly won’t define our future success. We reflect, review and push on stronger.

Ryan Ball
Director of Education
Design & Technology Association