Rejected petition: Make French GCSE Fair: Lower Grade Boundaries to Protect Student Access
Rejected on
We ask the UK Government to lower the excessively high French GCSE grade boundaries. Current boundaries prevent students from choosing French, reduce entries nationwide, and risk the long‑term survival of the subject. Fairer boundaries will protect access and support language learning.
French GCSE grade boundaries have risen significantly from 2025 to 2026, in some cases by over 15%. This has resulted in an unprecedented number of grade 3 outcomes and is discouraging students from selecting French. When subjects like English and Physics award grade 9 at 76–78%, French requires 89.5%. Students face a clear disadvantage and this disparity restricts fair access to the subject and threatens the long‑term viability of French GCSE and A-Levels.
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
We can only accept petitions about things the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.
Decisions about grade boundaries are a matter for exam boards, OFQUAL and individual schools, and are not a matter for the UK Government or Parliament.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.