THE Government has announced that new English Literature, English Language and mathematics GCSEs will be introduced from September next year.

And they will use a new grading system, which goes from one to nine, as opposed to the traditional A to E.

Officials have said nine will be the highest rating and four will the rough equivalent of the current C grade.

Ofsted’s chief regulator Glenys Stacey said the new system would improve understanding of achievement by students.

“How grade standards are set is an extremely important issue, and we were very encouraged by the quantity and quality of the responses to our consultation,” she said.

“We have given them a great deal of consideration, and can now confirm how things will work when the new GCSEs are awarded in 2017.

“We are being quite clear that the approach in that first year will draw heavily on statistical evidence to make sure that there are clear ‘anchor points’ from the old system to the new.

“This will make sure that the year group are not disadvantaged, or advantaged, because of the introduction of the new qualifications, and will provide certainty about what to expect at this time of change.”