By Gavin Mackintosh-
The UK government has proposed providing exam aids to students taking GCSE maths, physics, and combined science for one more year, citing the ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic.
The proposal contradicts previous statements by former schools minister Nick Gibb, who indicated an “expectation” that formula and equation sheets would not be offered for 2024 tests.
The government’s two-week consultation, published today, suggests continuing this support for exams scheduled next summer “in view of the disruption this cohort of students may have experienced.” This decision comes despite earlier expectations of a return to normalcy for the 2024 examinations.
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) stated that there was “strong support” for the use of aids in 2022 and 2023, with a reported positive impact on student confidence during exam preparation. The regulator’s review of these assessments found no evidence that the functioning of the exams was compromised.
However, the Department for Education (DfE) emphasized that by 2025, exams will return entirely to normal.
The department said this decision is justified by the belief that students taking exams in 2025 will have had more time in secondary school, benefitting from support from teachers and interventions like the National Tutoring Programme compared to students in the previous two cohorts.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary at the Association of School and College Leaders, expressed the belief that students should be provided with exam aids on a permanent basis. He stated, “This reflects our view that exams should not be memory tests but a way of seeing how well students apply their knowledge.”
While Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the NAHT school leaders’ union, welcomed the proposed extension of exam aids, she added that it was disappointing the decision came late in the teaching term, creating uncertainties for schools planning mock exams in December.
Dr. Jo Saxton, Ofqual’s chief regulator, confirmed there would be no grading protection in 2024, marking the end of a two-year plan to remove pandemic inflation. The move back to pre-pandemic standards aims to provide clarity on the benchmark for achieving specific grades.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan emphasized the need for additional support for young people taking GCSEs next year, acknowledging that they were the last cohort to experience two years of national closures during secondary school.
Keegan stated, “GCSEs are young people’s passport to their next stage of education, and we must ensure students have the opportunity to show what they know and can do, and ultimately meet their potential.”
The consultation on this proposal will run until November 30, allowing stakeholders and the public to share their views on the extension of exam aids for the upcoming GCSE examinations.