All the teenagers collecting their GCSE results this year have overcome significant difficulties. Their secondary school education has been thrown into upheaval by COVID-19: they have faced cancelled classes, have had to learn from home, have dealt with the social isolation and uncertainty of spending a significant part of their childhood in a pandemic.
But in England, these students have been marked to match a cohort of students who faced none of these challenges. Like A-level grades, GCSE results in England will see grade deflation: after higher grades were awarded during the pandemic, marks in 2023 will be brought down to be more in line with those given in 2019.
This approach treats the 2020 and 2021 results as though they are somehow less valid. But the teacher assessment used to grade GCSEs in those years allows pupils’ results to be based on their work across the school year, rather than in three hours of exams. I have argued that we should preserve this more equitable, inclusive and thorough way of assessing students.
Some teenagers will be celebrating as the 2023 results are handed out and their achievements should be lauded. Others will not be so happy.
