The low pass rate in compulsory GCSE resits has long been a dirty secret of the exam system, but it is finally receiving attention. This year, nearly a quarter of all maths and English language entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were from students aged 17 or older retaking the exams. Only one in six of those retaking maths achieved a pass.
Jill Duffy, head of the OCR exam board, has described the situation as a crisis. While officials are now acknowledging the problem, opinions differ on the next steps. The Sixth Form Colleges Association proposes replacing compulsory resits with a modular alternative, allowing students to focus only on the parts they have failed, rather than endlessly repeating mastered content.
Former Conservative schools minister Nick Gibb opposes change, insisting all schools should emulate the best performers. However, subject experts argue the qualifications are poorly designed as a universal gateway to work. They suggest the current versions include unnecessary content such as geometry and quasi-literary analysis, rather than focusing on vital competencies like numeracy and reading comprehension.
Labour in opposition failed to grasp these issues effectively. Professor Becky Francis's review offers the best chance to break the destructive cycle, but the Department for Education's engagement with further education, where most resits occur, has been poor. There is no secondary English specialist on the review, and teacher shortages and special educational needs challenges persist.
Resits must be seen in the wider context of post-16 education reform, including the pledge to abolish courses seen as competition to T-levels. Critics worry about less academically able pupils, with tens of thousands on threatened courses potentially unsuited to newer alternatives. A skills white paper due in the autumn provides an opportunity to address these questions, balancing ambition with pragmatism.
