Starting in 2017 with English and Maths, new GCSEs in England will be graded from 9 to 1, with 9 being the top grade. 

Students taking GCSEs in England this summer have received a mixture of number and letter grades. English language, English literature and maths are the first subjects to use the new system, with most other subjects adopting numbers by 2019. Eventually all GCSEs taken in England will receive numerical grades.

More information regarding the new grading system and how this will affect your child can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-gcse-9-to-1-grades-coming-soon and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-qualification-our-regulation-gcse-as-and-a-level-reforms

A fact sheet is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/706497/Parent_factsheet_FINAL_.pdf