GCSE results plot steady course despite changes

The Department of Education's analysis of this year's Isle of Man GCSE grades show the pass rate very much in line with last year's.

Passes from A* to G stand at 99.2 per cent, just a fraction lower than last year.

And 69 per cent of the Island's GCSE students passed with A* - C grades.

The number of entries producing the highest A* and A grades fell - down from 19.3 per cent in 2013 to 17.7 per cent this year.

The average number of subjects entered was 9.5 GCSEs per student, again that's in line with recent years.

The number-crunching shows that fears the new 'linear' exams would mean a much greater variation than normal haven't really been bourne out.