'Two million without good GCSE'

Figures released by the Tories show that 1.75 million children left school without one GCSE at grade C or above between 1997 and 2007. In the same time frame, over 380,000 left without achieving a pass at grades A* to G. Last year, almost 153,000 pupils left without gaining a single C.

The data, obtained by parliamentary questions asked by shadow schools secretary Michael Gove revealed that last year around 23,500 pupils were not entered for a GCSE. Between 1997 and 2007, just over 300,000 teenagers left school without being entered for a single subject.

Shadow families minister Maria Miller said: "Eleven years after Labour came to power, almost two million children have left school without any 'good' GCSE passes. The Government has let down an entire generation of pupils who are not getting anything like the basic set of qualifications they need to continue studying or get the job they want.

"The problems with educational underachievement are concentrated in the poorest areas of the country. It is in those areas that our policies for a Swedish model of school reform to create thousands more good new school places can make the most difference. Only then will children from disadvantaged families start to get the same kind of opportunity as others."

The data comes the day before thousands of 16 year olds are due to receive their GCSE results.

The pass rate is expected to rise again this year and experts predict that one in five grades could be A or A*.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said that the gap in achievement between children from poorer and more affluent backgrounds is narrowing at GCSE level. He said: "Record investment and schools' hard work have transformed the lives and prospects of millions of young people. Since 1997, the number of schools where less than 25% of pupils gain five good GCSEs has dropped from 616 to 17: a 36-fold reduction.

"And standards are also rising in higher-attaining schools - the number of secondary schools where 70% or more pupils gain five good GCSEs has risen eleven-fold to 891, up from 83 in 1997. We are now putting £400 million of extra money into schools with the lowest GCSE results.

"Rather than peddling doom and gloom on the day before thousands of young people receive their results we suggest that the Conservatives get behind young people and celebrate their achievements."