The Government is considering scrapping compulsory GCSE resits in English and maths, in what could mark the most significant reform to post-16 education in a decade.
At present, pupils who fail to achieve a grade 4 (equivalent to a C under the old system) in either subject at 16 are required to resit them if they remain in education.
The policy was designed to ensure school leavers met the minimum standards needed for work and further study, since most employers demand passes in both subjects.
However, the approach has come under growing criticism amid falling pass rates. This summer, only 23.1 per cent of those retaking English achieved a pass, with the figure falling to 18.2 per cent in maths. Overall, GCSE results released this week showed pass rates in both subjects at their lowest levels in a decade.
GSCE proposals set
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson has already warned that four in five white working-class pupils are failing to secure the English and maths skills essential for success. While she has not confirmed the future of resits, an independent review of the curriculum commissioned by Labour is expected to recommend scrapping the current system.
A Whitehall source told the media that ministers are “considering all options” but accepted that ending mandatory retakes was “likely to be on the cards”.
Among the proposals being studied are:
Incremental testing: assessing pupils in stages on core skills rather than requiring them to pass a full GCSE resit.
Driving licence-style certificates: issuing credentials to prove competence in fundamental literacy and numeracy.
Dual retake system: offering academic students the chance to resit GCSEs while directing others towards practical “functional skills” qualifications.
Concerns Over Current Model
Experts say the current resit policy is failing students. Many colleges push pupils into November retakes immediately after GCSE failure, giving little time to improve. Schools also face funding incentives that tie post-16 places to ongoing English and maths study.
One review panel member said colleges had become “stuck in a flawed mindset” that assumes students will eventually “strike lucky” with repeated resits. “You only pass if you actually have the knowledge and skills to meet the standard,” they said.
Professor Becky Francis, who is leading the review, branded the persistently low resit pass rates indefensible.While she insists English and maths should remain part of post-16 education, she has called for greater nuance to ensure learners achieve positive outcomes.
Pressure on Ministers
Labour is expected to face questions over whether reforming the system risks lowering standards. But supporters argue the current model is leaving tens of thousands of pupils behind.
Last year, only 35 per cent of white British pupils on free school meals passed English and maths at GCSE. Almost two-thirds around 57,000 children were forced into resits this summer, with many likely to fail again.
Ms Phillipson has warned the impact goes far beyond individual pupils. “It’s not just the life chances of those children that are being damaged it’s also the health of our society as a whole. Swathes of human capability and productivity lost,” she said.
Read also: UK GCSE results show inequalities in student achievements
