Commenting on GCSE and Level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications results published today Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Congratulations to every young person receiving results today. This cohort began secondary school as the pandemic hit—facing unprecedented disruption and a government that failed to invest in recovery. Their achievements are amazing, our teachers and support staff the under-celebrated backbone.
“It is sadly all too clear from entries in GCSE subjects that the curriculum is continuing to narrow. Young people are being denied the fully-rounded education experience they deserve. The arts, PE and many other subjects are sidelined by the EBacc and the restrictive conditions it puts on schools.
“The assessment regime for GCSEs is outdated. Regurgitating information on a single day is becoming less and less relevant.
“The measurement of skills or knowledge should be tailored to the needs of a subject, not the one-size-fits-all of exams. A six-week window of stress is unnecessary and fails to prepare students for the world they are about to enter. Broader, mixed methods of assessment would help cultivate skills more effectively and allow all students the chance to show what they can do.
“We need to see an end to both EBacc and Progress 8. A major improvement in school funding would ensure young people can access a wider range of subjects.
“The government’s ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review is a generational opportunity to address these concerns. The time to do so is now.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
- The National Education Union stands up for the future of education. It brings together the voices of half a million teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders working in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK, to form the largest education union in Europe.
- It is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing its members in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
- The National Education Union is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). It is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.