Boris Johnson today thanked GCSE students for "literally saving lives" by staying home during the coronavirus pandemic as he congratulated them on their grades.
Hundreds of thousands of youngsters received their GCSE results on Thursday following major changes - but around 200,000 BTec pupils will not get their final results following a last-minute review of grades.
More than one in four (25.9 per cent) GCSE entries in England scored one of the three top grades this year, up from just over a fifth (20.7 per cent) last summer, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show.
“Congratulations to everyone receiving their GCSE results today," the Prime Minister said.
"I know the last few months have been tough and this isn’t how you imagined you would be finishing Year 11, but you can be proud of how you helped to keep the virus under control.
"You have literally saved lives through staying at home and keeping distance from others.
"Thank you for protecting yourselves, your families and your communities this year. And once again – congratulations and well done!"
It comes amid questions about the Prime Minister's whereabouts during the A-level results fiasco.
The use of an algorithm to grade pupils whose exams had been cancelled due to coronavirus was called "unfair" as it penalised disadvantaged students, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson did a U-turn on Monday and allowed pupils to be marked according to teachers’ predictions.
The minister said he was "incredibly sorry for the distress” caused, but Tory former minister George Freeman said the "exam shambles" raised "worrying" questions about leadership at the Department for Education.
Mr Johnson has remained under the radar during the row, and his congratulations to GCSE students on Thursday does not mention the furore.
When asked where the Prime Minister was on Thursday morning, schools minister Nick Gibb told Sky News: "The Prime Minister is kept closely involved with all these issues.
"I spoke to the Prime Minister twice this week, so he is aware of what is going on and is being kept informed daily about the details of what is happening with the exam issue."
Mr Williamson has been facing calls to resign over the A-level and GCSE results row, but it is only the latest controversy to hit members of Mr Johnson’s Government.
Since Mr Johnson became Prime Minister just over a year ago in July 2019, numerous controversies have surrounded members of his top team. However, all have stayed in post.