Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the provisional GCSE tables released today, said:

“Many children are performing well and we should celebrate the teachers and schools working tirelessly to help children get good grades.

“However it is deeply concerning that children in the north and the midlands still appear to be lagging behind their southern peers. The difference in geography should not mean a difference in attainment - Government plans for more grammar schools will do absolutely nothing to address this.

“We need to be supporting excellent teaching and leadership in all our schools right across the country to drive up standards, and concentrating on making sure all children are given the opportunity to fulfill their potential, not just a lucky few.”