Today’s Welsh GCSE results have a revealed a “troubling decline” in attainment, says Darren Millar AM – especially for grades A*- C (see WJEC press release and detailed dataset attached).

Darren Millar AM, Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Secretary, offered his congratulations to students but called on the Cabinet Secretary of Education, Kirsty Williams AM, to re-think her reform of the schools curriculum.

He said: “Today's GCSE Level results are very disappointing and indicate a troubling decline on last year’s results.

"While I want to extend my congratulations to those students who secured the grades they deserve, the results show us that too many learners have not been able to reach their full potential.

“The drop in attainment of grades A*- C and plummet in uptake of modern foreign languages are particularly disturbing, and do not bode well for Wales’ future economic prospects.

"In recent years we've seen international league tables rank Wales as the worst schools system in the UK, and the Chief Inspector has raised serious concerns about leadership and teaching standards.

"It's clear that students have been let down by the Welsh Government, which has failed to deliver the improvements they’ve promised time and time again.

“The Cabinet Secretary must look again at the pace and direction reform, and question whether it is the right path to follow - the evidence to date is far from compelling.”