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GCSE exam results 2026: highlights for computer science

GCSE Results Day is an important milestone for students, marking the culmination of years of learning, determination and hard work. We would like to congratulate everyone receiving their results today, as well as the teachers, school leaders and support staff who have helped students reach this point.

The publication of the 2026 GCSE results provides an opportunity to reflect on the continued strength of computer science in schools across England. This year's figures highlight the ongoing interest in the subject and demonstrate young people’s commitment to developing digital knowledge and skills. This growth is essential to their future education, employment and participation in an increasingly digital world.

Attainment is once again up

Student attainment in GCSE computer science has improved slightly this year, with female students continuing to outperform their male counterparts at key grade boundaries.

This year's results show that:

  • The proportion of students achieving grade 7 or above increased once again, with 29.9% of students achieving this threshold in 2026, compared with 29.6% in 2025 and 28.3% in 2024
  • Female students achieved a higher proportion of top grades than male students, with 36.0% achieving grade 7 or above, compared with 28.1% of male students
  • The proportion of students achieving grade 4 or above also continued to rise, reaching 70.6% in 2026, compared with 69.2% in 2025 and 68.3% in 2024
  • Female students again outperformed male students at grade 4 or above, with 76.2% achieving this threshold compared with 68.9% of male students

These outcomes reflect the hard work and commitment of students and teachers across the country. It is encouraging to see attainment continuing to improve, with more students achieving the highest grades and female students maintaining particularly strong outcomes.

This hard work is demonstrated not only through results day, but the continued number of teachers gaining their NCCE certification. These achievements highlight the strength of computer science education in schools and provide a positive foundation for the future of the subject.

Combined with the increase in A Level computer science entries reported last week, the attainment results from GCSE point to deepened knowledge and skills needed for future study and careers in technology, computing, and the wider digital industries.

Student numbers are down

In England, the number of students entered for GCSE computer science in 2026 has decreased. In 2026, a total of 82,428 students were entered for the qualification, compared with 88,750 in 2025 and 92,778 in 2024, representing a 7.1% decrease from 2025. While this reflects a recent decline in entries, participation remains higher than before the pandemic, with 80,027 students entered for GCSE computer science in 2019.

While overall entry numbers have declined, the proportion of female students studying GCSE computer science has increased slightly. In 2026, females accounted for 23.0% of entries, compared with 22.8% in 2025.

Overall, a number of factors may have influenced entry numbers this year, including ongoing challenges around teacher recruitment and retention, as well as evolving discussions about the role of AI and programming within computing education. It is also worth noting that many students in the 2026 cohort experienced disruption to their education during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the transition from Year 6 to Year 7.

Head of Professional Learning at STEM Learning, Steve Clarke, said "Today marks the monumental effort and hard work of students and teachers. This is an opportunity to thank the schools, families and the wider communities around young people who have helped make this happen.

It is encouraging to see further improvement in computer science attainment, alongside a continued positive trend in the proportion of entries from female students. Studying computer science equips young people with the skills and knowledge to make confident decisions about their future in an increasingly digital world."

Key Stage 3 is key to encouraging young people to pick GCSE computer science

A positive and engaging experience of computing at Key Stage 3 can play a significant role in encouraging more young people to continue their studies at GCSE.

To support this, we offer:

Teaching resources

  • The Teach Computing Curriculum and Oak National Academy resources provide schools with a comprehensive foundation for delivering an engaging and inclusive Key Stage 3 computing curriculum. Fully aligned to the National Curriculum, the resources support all strands of computing, including computer science, information technology and digital literacy, through carefully sequenced lessons, high-quality teaching materials and practical activities. Together, they help teachers build students’ knowledge and confidence while demonstrating the creativity, relevance and real-world applications of computing, encouraging more young people to continue their studies beyond Key Stage 3.

Improve your subject knowledge with our certificates

  • Build your confidence in teaching up to GCSE computer science with the Key Stage 3 and GCSE Computer Science Subject Knowledge Certificate. Access free online CPD, available 24/7, covering topics from across the computing curriculum. The programme is flexible, allowing you to focus on the areas most relevant to your teaching and development needs.

Extend your enrichment offer

  • Explore the wide range of free enrichment activities available through the Teach Computing website. Enrichment provides an excellent opportunity to increase engagement, broaden students' experiences, and explore areas of computing beyond the National Curriculum, with all resources available free of charge.

Isaac Computer Science

  • Isaac Computer Science is a free online learning platform that supports students studying GCSE and A Level Computer Science. Covering the full range of major specifications, it provides high-quality learning materials, explanatory content, videos, self-marking questions and exam-style activities that students can use both in the classroom and independently to strengthen their understanding and prepare for assessments.

I Belong programme

  • I Belong is a free, evidence-informed programme designed to help schools increase girls’ participation in computing. Through practical guidance, classroom resources, professional development and support from a community of educators, the programme helps teachers create a more inclusive computing environment and inspire more girls to see themselves as future computer scientists.

Preparing for a new era in computing

As you prepare for the future of the subject, it is worth looking ahead to the changes on the horizon. The Department for Education is expected to publish a draft computing curriculum ahead of first teaching from September 2028. This will give you an opportunity to explore the proposed changes and consider how they may shape teaching and learning in your school. At the NCCE, we will be supporting teachers with updated CPD to provide a helping hand during the transition.

While computer science will remain an important part of computing education, the reforms are expected to place a greater emphasis on the digital knowledge and skills that young people need to engage safely, confidently and effectively in modern society. As these changes develop, there will be exciting opportunities for you to broaden participation, support a wider range of learners, and help prepare every student for an increasingly digital world.

Sources:

  1. JCQ Exam Results Data - GCSE results by main grades, subjects, age and sex, England, 2026, published 20th August 2026