The government has announced that those pupils who record a D grade 'near miss' in maths and English GCSEs will soon be expected to re-sit the test at the earliest possible opportunity.

According to the government, the overarching reason for this is that it wants pupils without good grades in these subjects at GCSE to continue with them beyond the age of 16.

Schools minister Nick Gibb confirmed that the one in five with a D grade will be expected to reach at least a C, people seeking teaching jobs may wish to know..

All young people, Mr Gibb said, should be "fluent and comfortable in these basic skills".

"Too many young people are dropping English and maths before they have secured a good grounding," he added.

"These vital subjects are critical to the economy and as a country we need all our young people to be fluent and comfortable in these basic skills."