Please see below a link to a letter from Justine Greening, published on 28th March, announcing that the Department for Education will distinguish between a GCSE grade 4 as a “standard pass” and a grade 5 as a “strong pass” and report on both. 

 

Under the new system, a grade 4 and above will be equivalent to a C and above. This is - and will remain - the level that pupils must achieve in order not to be required to continue studying English and maths post 16. Therefore, a GCSE pass at new grade 4 will continue to have real currency for individual pupils as they progress to further study and employment. Where employers, FE providers and universities currently accept a grade C we would expect them to continue recognising a grade 4.