Teenagers across the country will be discovering their GCSE results today. The ECHO has been stationed at schools across Merseyside speaking to students about their results and plans for the future after years of hard work.
The numerical system, first introduced in 2017, continues this year, with pupils awarded grades from one to nine in each subject. This replaced the alphabetical system, which had been used since GCSEs were first introduced in 1988. National figures have shown the proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has risen from last year but fewer GCSE entries scored a decent pass.
More than a fifth (21.9%) of UK entries were awarded the top grades – at least a 7 or an A grade – this year, up by 0.1 percentage points on last year, when 21.8% achieved the top grades. This was higher than in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, when 20.8% of entries achieved the top grades.
As many youngsters open their envelopes today to find out about what they have achieved, we have taken a look at how some of the most famous footballers from the region fared in their exams.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The 26-year-old departed his home city this summer as he made the move to Real Madrid. The former Liverpool FC player’s talents were recognised from a young age and he had to juggle his education with his burgeoning football career.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2023, the former number 66 spoke about how he took GSCE science and maths exams early, so he could be available for training as he edged closer to his professional debut. On taking a maths exam in Bulgaria during an under 17s tournament, he told the outlet: “Obviously, I don’t think I’ve done less revision for anything in my life.
“Surely that can’t be normal. Sacrifices like that shouldn’t be happening. A pass was considered good enough. I was brought up to aim for Bs, minimum, for the other lads it was just getting passes so they could drop their subjects and free up time. Then in Year 11, the big year of secondary school, it all got chopped.”
Alexander-Arnold only had one full day in school in Year 11, but still managed to pass eight subjects, including two Bs and six Cs.
Wayne Rooney
Rooney was another talent whose incredible ability was recognised from a young age. He was only 16 when the former Everton striker announced himself to the world with a stunning winner against Arsenal in 2002.
The footballer has admitted that he concentrated on playing football over school and left education without any GCSEs. However, as Mirror Online reported, he recently told BBC Sport how this doesn’t mean he’s uneducated.
He told BBC Sport: “It’s no secret that I didn’t even take GCSEs but I think people assume because of that that I’m not educated, which is really wrong. I made a conscious effort when I was at Everton and Manchester United to educate myself in a lot of different things, such as black history and religion.
“The reason I did that was because I wanted to hold conversations with my team-mates who are from different backgrounds. That was something I did to help me with my team-mates and help understand how they have been brought up. That’s probably something people don’t understand about me.”
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard was another one whose shining football talents was obvious from a young age. The Cardinal Heenan pupil left school with one C, six Ds and two Es in his GCSE exams.
After this, the Liverpool FC icon took on a summer of work experience at Melwood and the rest is history as he went on to become one of the club’s most important ever players.