‘Relentless’ GCSE Resit Cycle ‘Simply Not Working’, School and College Leaders Say
The "relentless" cycle of pupils in England failing and then resitting their GCSEs in maths and English is "simply not working," according to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). They claim a significant number of students fall short of passing, with most retakers experiencing failure once again.
Thursday’s results data revealed nearly one in four GCSEs in England in maths and English were taken by students aged 17 or older—primarily young people resitting exams they had previously failed. The government has expressed its desire to halt the "endless treadmill of unnecessary resits," introducing a new Level 1 qualification, one level below GCSEs, for students who don’t achieve a pass in GCSE maths or English from 2028.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of ASCL, likened the fail-resit cycle to "force feeding" students a "relentless diet of GCSE English and maths." He argued that this limits their educational and career prospects and contributes to high rates of young people not in employment, education, or training.
Pass rates for 17+ students in English and maths are significantly lower than for 16-year-olds taking the exams for the first time, dragging down overall GCSE grades across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a result. While resitting isn’t mandatory, colleges generally enter students into exams when they believe they’re ready.
For Marianne’s sons in Cambridgeshire, results day brought mixed fortunes. Jake achieved a grade 8 in maths, but Tobias, despite good A-level results, didn’t pass his fifth attempt at the GCSE and is now stuck in a resit loop.
"It’s horrendous making him keep doing it," Marianne expressed her frustration.
