GCSE students receiving results ‘undoubtedly affected by Covid disruption’
How the Covid-19 pandemic affected GCSE students
- Students across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are receiving their GCSE and vocational qualification results today, a cohort that was in primary school when the Covid-19 pandemic began.
- More than one in five GCSE entries are anticipated to achieve the top grades (7 or A), with grading standards having returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
- Education leaders highlight ongoing challenges for students, including attendance issues, cost-of-living pressures, and an increase in requests for special exam accommodations, which strain school resources.
- Competition for sixth form places is expected to be more intense this year due to a rising 16-year-old population and potential shifts from the private sector, with concerns about widening socio-economic divides in outcomes.
- A government review is underway to consider reducing the overall volume of GCSE assessment, with headteachers' unions advocating for less reliance on terminal exams and more varied assessment methods.