KIRSTIE ALLSOPP URGES PARENTS TO 'WAIT FOR THEIR CHILD'S REACTION' BEFORE ACTING WHILE JAMIE OLIVER SAYS GRADES SHOULD NOT 'DEFINE YOU' AS THEY SHARE INSPIRING MESSAGES ON GCSE RESULTS DAY

Kirstie Allsopp and Jamie Oliver have shared inspiring messages of hope and support for GCSE results day on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland opened their GCSE exam results in a year when grades were due to be restored to 2019 levels in all three nations.

And taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on the big day, Kirstie noted that the reaction of parents will make a huge difference to their children as she spoke of the importance on holding back their emotions.

The presenter, 59, tweeted: 'These are not our exam results they are theirs, so do wait for your child’s reaction to their GCSE results before you jump up looking happy or sad, how we react will matter and could make a difference, but the rest of their life is not defined by these grades, this to shall pass.'

While Kirstie, who recently came under fire for allowing her 15-year-old interrail across Europe for three weeks, mostly garnered positive responses, there was one follower who hit out at her for 'preaching' to people.

They wrote: 'Please stop preaching what people should do. You’re an out of touch elitist trapped in a privileged bubble and know nothing about the real world. Sincerely, Everyone.'

The star was clearly not impressed by the criticism as she response: 'Do eff off.' 

Meanwhile, Jamie Oliver shared an inspiring message about not letting results 'define you' as he opened up about his struggles with Dyslexia growing up.

The chef, 49, was himself diagnosed with dyslexia in primary school and has previously been candid about his experience with the condition.

Jamie penned: 'Huge luck to everyone receiving their GCSE results today....I hope you get the grades you want. And if you don’t then please believe me when I say it’s not the end of the world and it doesn’t need to define you either !!

'I’ve learnt that first hand being dyslexic and it’s why my Billy children’s books hold such a special place in my heart. What it does mean is that you might need to find a different way to get where you want to be....and you know what it’s fun to be unconventional!! 

'Intelligence comes in many forms and I (and Billy!) have every faith that the wider world will see your brilliance just like I do x x x.'

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling, which affects individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing. 

Alongside his kind words, Jamie posted a picture of himself posing in a promotional shot for his books.

The proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has fallen for the third year in a row but is higher than before the pandemic, national figures show, as the final cohort of the Covid generation receive their results. 

More than a fifth (21.8 percent) of UK GCSE entries were awarded the top grades - at least a 7 or an A grade - this year, down 0.2 percentage points on last year.

This is higher than the equivalent figure for 2019 - before the pandemic disrupted schooling - of 20.8 percent. Most of the students receiving results today were in year 7 at the start of the pandemic.

This summer's exams saw a record number of GCSE grades awarded, an increase on 2023 of 4.8 percent, or more than 6.1 million - compared with a 4.6 percent increase in the number of 16-year-olds.

More than 372,000 Vocational Technical Qualifications, or VTQs, were also awarded, taking the overall number of results to more than 6.5 million. 

The rise was partly driven by an increase in the number of students aged 17 or older taking exams, particularly in Maths and English Language. 

The figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cover GCSE entries from students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The proportion of entries getting at least a 4 or a C grade - considered a 'standard pass' - has fallen from 68.2 percent in 2023 to 67.6 percent this year - a drop of 0.6 percentage points, but higher than 67.3 percent in 2019.

The overall rate for grades 1/G or above is 97.9 percent, down from 98.0 percent in 2023 and 98.3 percent in 2019.

In England, exams regulator Ofqual said it expected this year's national results to be 'broadly similar' to last summer, when grades were brought back in line with pre-pandemic levels.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators aimed to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer - a year later than in England.

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2024-08-22T10:33:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd