Do you think that GCSEs are too easy?

What you must remember is that GCSEs are designed to be taken by the majority of the population whereas A-Levels are a more challenging course designed for a smaller number of people. From what I gather, the original O-Levels were more like the current AS Levels, but they were only designed, originally at least, for a very small number of 16 year olds (I think around 20%). A student who, if they had been in the 1950's, would have been eligible for O-Levels would likely be very successful at GCSEs. I think AS do bridge the gap well enough, but you are right that it is still a jump. I don't think GCSEs should be harder, because of what I have said above, but I do think that schools should stretch students who can cope with the work so they are more prepared for further education. The school I go to makes the year 11's all do an AS of their choice AND General Studies AND a maths extended qualification as well as all of the GCSEs they have to do. They are very well prepared for A-Levels.

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You say that, but I think it was 97% of my school year (not a grammar or anything like that) got 5 A*-C. Probably 85% stayed on for sixth form. I go to school on a rural area, so those who left at sixteen mostly left to become farmers lol.
I think that what your school is doing sounds good! I wish I'd had access to that kind of thing in year 11, it would have helped so much.

Maybe GCSEs should be taken in year ten, (for higher students at least) and then in year 11 there should be something to bridge the gap more.

I completely agree, I think there should be something like Foundation level, Higher level, and Advanced Higher Level papers (instead of just foundation and higher) to prepare the "abled" (?) students for the likes of Alevels. In all 4 of my choices, the jumps have been huge, and I think the biggest by FAR is Maths. Perhaps I see it as a huge jump because I'm doing the AS and A2 in one year, but GCSE maths is pretty much a joke compared to the level of detail and breadth it goes into at alevel, and the exam style is completely different. An absolute joke.

There also should be a 'Further Maths' GCSE to perhaps bridge the gap between AS maths and GCSE maths.

Yes. You don't need much natural ability to do well at GCSE, only a willingness to work hard and decent self-control. The step up to A-Levels is too big, because at A-Level they assume you actually have an interest in the subject – since you picked them rather than had them forced on you – and therefore a willingness to read around the subject. Plenty of people coming into my school at sixth form level did very well in the previous year but crash and burn at A-Level.