Record GCSE grades 'likely to prompt more students than ever to attend college'

More students than ever are expected to go to college after record GCSE results were achieved. Picture: Handout photo issued by Hazelwood College of students getting their GCSE results at Hazelwood College in Belfast.

More students than ever are likely to progress to A-levels and vocational courses following steep rises in the GCSE pass rates for maths and English, college leaders have said.

Nearly three in four (71.2%) entries in England received a grade 4 or above - broadly equivalent to a C or above - in English this year, compared with 61.8% last year, according to data published by exams regulator Ofqual.