Brighton pupils gain ground in key GCSE subjects

By the AtheneNet News Desk | Published 20 August 2026

The share of Brighton & Hove GCSE students achieving grade 4 or above in both English and Maths has risen to 69%, according to provisional local results released on Thursday, 20 August.

That is two percentage points higher than the 67% recorded last year. The increase stands out against a national picture described by Brighton and Hove City Council as broadly static, although no national percentage was included in the council’s release.

Combined English and Maths passes rise by two points

The measure covers students who reached at least grade 4 in both English and Maths, rather than performance in either subject separately. Grade 4 is the threshold counted in this comparison.

The figures indicate an improvement in the citywide proportion meeting that combined benchmark. They do not show how results varied between individual Brighton & Hove schools, subjects or groups of pupils, and the 2026 total remains provisional.

Nor does the year-on-year movement establish why results changed. The council’s announcement did not provide school-level breakdowns, pupil numbers or additional attainment measures from which broader conclusions could be drawn.

Local improvement comes amid a static national picture

Councillor Emma Daniel, the council’s Cabinet member for Children, Families and Youth Services, congratulated students and thanked teachers, school staff, parents, carers and communities for supporting them through their GCSEs.

She also stressed that finishing secondary school reflects more than examination grades, acknowledging what young people achieved outside the classroom during the year.

John McKee, chair of the city’s secondary headteacher group, said Brighton & Hove’s headteachers were celebrating the work, determination and resilience behind the results. He noted that schools serve different communities and cohorts, with their own experiences, strengths and challenges, making examination data only one part of each school’s story.

That distinction matters when reading the headline figure: the 69% result is a citywide snapshot, not a complete assessment of every school or student. Confirmed final data or a fuller breakdown would be needed to judge whether the improvement was evenly shared.

Support remains available for post-GCSE choices

Students who did not receive the results they expected, or who remain uncertain about their next step, can seek guidance from the council’s Youth Employability Service.

On results day, advisers were available by telephone on 01273 294247 and through the YESBrightonHove Facebook account until 5pm. In-person support was offered until 4.30pm at the Youth Employment Hub in Montague House, Montague Place, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1JE. Those hours applied specifically to Thursday, 20 August.

The online Youth Employment Hub continues to provide information intended to help young people explore education, employment and training routes. The options covered include sixth form, college, apprenticeships and short courses, alongside one-to-one support and in-person events.

Apprenticeships offer a route through which students can earn while learning and gain practical experience. Young people can search the national apprenticeship service for opportunities, check vacancies in Brighton & Hove and review the council’s jobs pages for local authority apprenticeships and other employment openings.

Source: Brighton and Hove City Council