There will be some changes to the way GCSE results are recorded this year.

This will mean secondary schools across Bracknell, Wokingham and Ascot - as well as the rest of the country - will report their exam results using a new method, called Attainment 8 and Progress 8.

This is different from the old system of five A*-Cs including maths and English, which will no longer be used in school performance tables.

Each school’s Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores are based on all of their pupils’ results across eight subjects.

The eight subjects include maths and English, the best of up to three further qualifications that count in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc - the subjects in this category include science, history, geography, languages and computer science) and, finally, the three best results of any other GCSE qualification (including EBacc subjects) or non-GCSE qualifications on a Department for Education approved list of subjects.

The grade achieved is converted into a point score. Attainment 8 represents the average achievement of the school’s pupils across the eight subjects and this is also shown as a grade.

For example, ‘C’ means that a school’s pupils achieved a grade C on average.

Attainment 8 is calculated by translating GCSE grades into numbers. An A* is worth eight and an A is worth seven, and so on down to G, worth one point.

This process will eventually get easier, when reformed GCSEs start using a 1-9 scale in 2017, although there will be a period of confusing overlap when pupils are awarded both letters and numbers.

Progress 8 measures the progress of pupils from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school.

A school’s Progress 8 score is calculated by comparing the achievement (ie. Attainment 8 score) of all of its pupils against the Attainment 8 score of all pupils nationally with similar prior attainment.

Prior attainment is based on assessment results from the end of primary school. The greater the score, the greater the progress made over the course of secondary school.

Progress 8 will be published as a numerical figure where each GCSE grade is equal to 1.

For example, a Progress 8 score of 0.5 means that pupils made half a grade more progress across their subjects than expected.

A score of 0 would mean that pupils made expected progress. A negative score means progress was below the expected level.

At this stage, Progress 8 scores are provisional and subject to change.

The percentage of pupils achieving grade C or above in both English and maths is also provided.

This measure is called ‘The Basics’ and the best of English language or English literature is used in this calculation.