The Department for Education has confirmed that A-level and GCSE grades awarded in 2023 will be lower on average than this summer, as part of plans to return grading to pre-pandemic levels. While some support remains in place for students whose learning was disrupted, experts have warned of the impact on disadvantaged pupils.
Natalie Perera, chief executive of the Education Policy Institute, voiced concern about disadvantaged students, particularly those in the north of England, who experienced the greatest learning loss during the pandemic. She noted that although their qualifications courses may not have been affected by national closures, the preceding years that provide foundations for their studies were significantly disrupted.
Sarah Hannafin, senior policy adviser for the National Association of Head Teachers, said next year's exam cohort has faced disruption over the past three years, and for A-level students these will be their first formal exams. She argued it is right that this is recognised to ensure the cohort is not disadvantaged.
Exams were abandoned in 2020 and 2021, replaced by teacher assessment which led to record top grades. Jo Saxton, Ofqual's chief regulator, said overall results in 2023 will be much closer to pre-pandemic years, and will be lower than in 2022. She added that senior examiners would adjust if performance is a little weaker compared with before the pandemic.
Next summer's candidates will not get advance notice of topics, but GCSE maths, physics and combined science students will receive formulae and equation sheets. Separately, DfE figures show school attendance for the week ending 12 September returned to 95%, matching pre-pandemic levels, easing concerns about persistent absence.
