PA MediaThousands of students have collected their GCSE results on Thursday, with many reflecting on the profound impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, 18.4% entries were awarded the top grades of seven or higher, a slight increase compared to 18.3% in 2024 and 17.8% in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Like most regions, Yorkshire and the Humber has also seen a drop in its pass rate, decreasing from 64.1% in 2019 to 63.6% in 2025.
Student Mohammad Zeeshan said that despite a challenging start to his secondary education due to the pandemic, he was “very proud” of his results.
Mohammad, who attends Oasis Academy Lister Park, in the Manningham area of Bradford, plans on studying maths, further maths, physics and history A-Levels at Dixons Sixth Form Academy.
He wants to study mechanical engineering at university, which he is on track to do after a tough start to year 10.
“I was predicted very low grades, like barely passes – fours and fives,” he said. “I was messing about a lot in year 10 and then from year 11 onwards I decided to get my head down.”
Mohammad’s cohort started secondary school life during Covid-19 lockdowns – and much of his first two years were spent distance learning.
“We all had a rough beginning towards the start of year 7 because we were all impacted by Covid,” he said.
“It had a social and mental health impact on the students.”
Ebrahim Mayat already knows that he wants to study physics at the University of Leeds.
He received high grades, including two nines – the highest grade possible indicating the top 1% of achievers.
He also said that Covid “kind of hindered” his cohort’s education, “but eventually when it ended and we got back into school full time, everything got back into shape”.
‘Attendance issues’
Jules Millar, principle at the school, said that attendance had been an issue that has not fully recovered since the Covid pandemic, but is beginning to return to normal.
Attendances at Oasis Lister Park were usually upwards of 90% before Covid, she said.
This year’s attendance has been around the 86% mark, up from 81% the year before.
“We’re still experiencing the attendance issues and the idea of being at school every day is the norm,” Ms Millar said.
“There’s been children in this year group we’ve had to collect from home, provide additional support for and refer to social services, because they still haven’t quite recovered.”
‘Nervous and excited’
At St Aiden’s Church of England High School in Harrogate, headteacher Siân Dover said she was feeling “very proud” of all her students.
“I am feeling nervous and excited for them all,” she added.
Ms Dover said there were also a lot of people on hand to support students as they received their results.
“Our pastoral team, teaching team, the careers team and the sixth form team are all here to support the children.
“Those that didn’t get the grades or those who got some really great grades and have gone ‘actually I want to go a different path than I thought’.
Her advice to students, irrespective of their grades, was to take some time to “absorb” their results and remember that whatever they have achieved, “there is always something out there for everyone”.
At nearby Harrogate High School, pupils including Elise Lovell were relieved to get their exam results.
“I am definitely pleased with my results and I can get into the sixth form of my choice.”
Mark Orovskyi, who is originally from Ukraine, travelled back to Leeds Bradford Airport from a holiday in Poland to collect her results.
He said he was most relieved to have passed his English exams.
“Obviously I am Ukrainian, but I just prepared and hoped for the best and it turned out amazing.”
For Kate Norris, a student at St Bernard’s Catholic High School in Rotherham, it was an emotional morning.
“When I opened my results I was happy but I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I just bawled.”
She said she had passed all of her exams and got distinctions in the subjects she wanted.
“All the things I was worried about I’ve passed.”
Kate hopes to go onto sixth form college to study English, drama and graphic communications.
Fellow pupil Joshua Sholademi was also celebrating.
“I did pretty decent,” he said.
“I got a few eights and nines, some sevens, and three sixes. I am really relieved, I was so nervous.”
Joshua said he wants to go to sixth form college to do history, politics and law at A-level.
“I am really proud of myself,” he added.
Headteacher at St Bernard’s, Andy Riding, said the students had excelled and that the school was “really pleased” with the results, which were an improvement on the previous year.
“A particular strength is English, over 80% got a grade four or above and other strengths included really strong outcomes in RE.”
He said it was also important to remember that results “should not define any young person”.
At Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley, Arthur Rogers said it felt like the “most important day” of his life.
“I care about these results a lot, so me coming in and seeing that I’ve got what I wanted, it’s a good feeling.”
He said he had done better than he had expected in some subjects.
“So I am going to sixth form, I’m excited definitely.”
Fellow student Hannah Young said today’s results “meant so much” especially as she felt she had worked really hard.
“I’d prepared for a worst case scenario, so I was already going in feeling a bit disappointed so it was a nice surprise,” she said of opening her results.
“I got nine nines and one eight, I get to stay here for sixth form and study maths, drama and physics.
“I am so happy and so relieved. It’s been a lot of time, a lot of work.”
