Joy Israel Mbengo celebrates with English teacher Steve Parkes as he opens his GCSE results at Core's City Academy in Birmingham.
Pupils at the Fowey River Academy receive their GCSE results. Year 11 pupils are collecting their GCSEs earlier than usual to allow time for students to submit appeals.
Olympic medal-winning twins Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova celebrate with their GCSE results at Aylesbury Vale Academy in Buckinghamshire.
Noah Dunstan hugs his mother after opening his GCSE results at Ffynone House School in Swansea, Wales.
Amira Adrwish opens her GCSE results at Core's City Academy in Birmingham, West Midlands.
Well done. A pupil at Fowey River Academy, Cornwall, receives his GCSE results.
All smiles for Dhiaan Tatlah, centre, and friends after opening their GCSE results at Ffynone House School in Swansea.
Pupils at Aylesbury Vale Academy in Buckinghamshire celebrate after getting their GCSE results.
Is it true? A pupil at Fowey River Academy looks through his GCSE results.
Sophie Thomas, centre, after opening her results at Ffynone House School in Swansea.
Hajara Yousouf, right, and a friend open their GCSE results at Core's City Academy in Birmingham.
The overall pass percentage was 76.3 per cent, a rise of 0.8 per cent.
Unlike Tuesday's record A-level results, the percentage increases do not exceed the rise in top grades in 2020, the first year in which the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of exams.
Then, the number of top grades allocated rose 9 per cent while the number of passes rose 5.4 per cent.
The modest improvement in this year's batch makes it easier for exam regulators to defend the credibility of the teacher-graded assessment system used to mark them.
Ofqual called it fair and thorough, although UK schools minister Nick Gibb said on Wednesday that he wanted to go back to exams in future, which he said were proven to be the fairest means of assessment, and where "significant changes" awarded to pupils were less rare.
This might be easier said than done, however, according to Prof Alan Smithers of the Centre of Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University.
He believes the trend to higher grades and less exam stress is a popular mix with pupils, parents and educators alike.
"It will be quite a task for the government to put the genie back into the bottle," he told the BBC.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
