About 145,000 pupils in England’s state-funded mainstream schools finished year 11 in summer 2026 without a grade 4 or above in GCSE English, according to CloudLearn analysis of provisional Department for Education data published on 15 October 2026. That’s 23.6% of the cohort. In maths, the figure is about 175,000, or 28.6%. Those who stay in education to 18 must keep studying the subject.
What does the 2026 key stage 4 data show?
The DfE’s provisional key stage 4 data for 2025/26 covers 614,130 pupils in state-funded mainstream schools, by CloudLearn’s count across mainstream school types. Of those, 76.4% reached grade 4 or above in English and 71.4% in maths. Two in three, 66.5%, reached grade 4 in both, the same rate as in 2024/25.
| Subject | Reached grade 4 or above | Did not | Pupils without grade 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 76.4% | 23.6% | About 145,000 |
| Maths | 71.4% | 28.6% | About 175,000 |
| English and maths | 66.5% | 33.5% | About 206,000 |
The figures barely moved from 2024/25, when 76.2% of pupils reached grade 4 in English and 71.5% in maths on the same basis.
Regional gaps are wider. In London’s state-funded mainstream schools, 82.6% of pupils reached grade 4 in English in 2026. In the West Midlands the figure was 74.4%, and in the North West 75.1%.
These are provisional figures, calculated by CloudLearn from the DfE’s published tables. The DfE publishes revised data later in the academic year.
Where can people retake GCSE English?
Most 16 to 18 year olds will retake GCSE English at their sixth form or college, which enters them for the exam. Adults aged 19 and over without a grade 4 can study English free at a further education college, which is also its own exam centre, though the course runs on the college timetable across an academic year.
Online providers offer another route, particularly for adults who can’t attend daytime classes. CloudLearn’s GCSE English Language course prepares students for Pearson Edexcel’s International GCSE English Language B, a single three-hour written paper, and books the exam at a partner centre, with exam fees charged separately.
Anyone choosing the International GCSE should check that their employer, college or university accepts it. Requirements usually ask for a grade 4 “or equivalent”, and each organisation decides what counts.
What happens to students who missed grade 4 in English?
Students aged 16 to 18 in England without a grade 4 must continue studying English as a condition of their institution’s funding, under DfE rules for 2026/27. Full-time students need a minimum of 100 planned teaching hours a year. Those on grade 3 must study towards the GCSE, while those on grade 2 or below may take Functional Skills level 2 instead.
The November resit series starts shortly. GCSE English language and maths have a November series in England for candidates aged 16 and over, with results the following January. Results from the November 2025 series were released on 8 January 2026.
Resit outcomes are low. JCQ figures for summer 2025 show 20.9% of 175,118 GCSE English entries from candidates aged 17 and over reached grade 4 or above, unchanged from 2024. Among 17 to 19 year olds the rate was 19.7%.
Older candidates did better. In 2025, 33.2% of candidates aged 20 and over reached grade 4 in English in 2025. These are different groups in different circumstances, and the data doesn’t explain why the rates differ.
Which regions had the most pupils without grade 4 in English?
London had the highest rate of pupils reaching grade 4 in English in 2026, and the West Midlands the lowest, by CloudLearn’s analysis of the provisional DfE data for state-funded mainstream schools.
| Region | English grade 4 or above | Maths grade 4 or above |
|---|---|---|
| London | 82.6% | 76.4% |
| South East | 77.4% | 73.7% |
| East of England | 76.4% | 72.0% |
| South West | 76.1% | 72.7% |
| North East | 75.9% | 70.7% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 75.6% | 70.3% |
| East Midlands | 75.1% | 70.6% |
| North West | 75.1% | 69.0% |
| West Midlands | 74.4% | 68.0% |
The gap between London and the West Midlands is eight percentage points in English and more in maths. The data shows where the gaps are. It doesn’t explain them.
How many GCSE English entries now come from older students?
Roughly one in four. Ofqual’s provisional entry figures for summer 2026 show 24.4% of GCSE English language entries in England came from students in year 12 and above, up from 23.3% in 2025. On Ofqual’s total of 844,455 English language entries, that’s about 206,000 entries, by CloudLearn’s analysis of the Ofqual data.
Across all GCSE subjects, Ofqual counted 492,330 entries from year 12 and above in summer 2026, up 4.4% on 2025.
The 16-year-old population in England rose 1.2% over the same period, per the ONS projections Ofqual cites. Entries from older students grew faster than that.
What happens next?
Revised key stage 4 data will follow from the DfE, and the November resit results arrive in January 2027. Summer 2027 is the next main series for English and maths.
For adults planning to sit in summer 2027, booking deadlines come in the winter. CloudLearn’s booking information lists late fees from 29 January and high late fees from 26 February for the summer series.
Frequently asked questions
How was the 145,000 figure calculated?
CloudLearn summed the DfE’s provisional 2025/26 key stage 4 figures across state-funded mainstream school types, then subtracted the number of pupils reaching grade 4 or above in English from the total number of pupils. The result is rounded.
Do adults have to resit GCSE English?
No. The resit requirement applies to 16 to 18 year olds as a condition of their institution’s funding. Adults choose whether to sit.
Is GCSE English free for adults?
Adults aged 19 and over in England without a grade 4 or equivalent can study it free at a further education college.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
