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Original poster

GCSE resits- what's the answer?

7 replies

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 25/10/2023 17:54

I saw this article shared elsewhere: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-67192631

In combination with pretty terrible resit pass rates this summer (16% for maths, 26% for English) https://feweek.co.uk/gcse-resits-2023-maths-and-english-pass-rates-down-again/

It seems like the current resit system just isn't working.

I get that for some students, maybe borderline 3/4 students or those who were perhaps relatively recent arrivals to the UK, or those who had a really bad day during their maths exam, having the chance to resit for free is really important.

But for students who got a 1 or a U at GCSE, is it realistic that they are ever going to pass?

Some students will never pass English and maths, and I do think we need to acknowledge that- is it not better to direct them towards functional skills, or similar?

Or if we want all students to eventually pass, do we need to make these exams more accessible?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 27/10/2023 13:03

One thing that isn't mentioned is the lack of teaching time given to the resits. A lot of kids will be getting a couple of lessons a week and then be expected to do better than they did when they were having 4 lessons of week and a load of homework in Y11. It doesn't make any sense, particularly when they will have forgotten loads of it over the long Y11 summer holiday.

phlebasconsidered · 31/10/2023 07:53

Ds is at college now doing a trade. He missed his maths by 3 marks- last year he'd have passed but the grade boundary shift stuffed him. He only has 1 lesson of maths now in a class heaving with everyone else who also failed (it's clear the college planned on the grade boundaries not moving as much as they did) and there is no way he will pass it this November. Or ever will given that there is no room in his college day, or the staff for, for anything more.

MrsHamlet · 31/10/2023 20:03

"we" don't want all students to pass though. The system doesn't allow it. So making anyone who doesn't get a 4 do a resit is stupid. They still can't all get 4s.

Original poster
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/10/2023 22:09

noblegiraffe · 27/10/2023 13:03

One thing that isn't mentioned is the lack of teaching time given to the resits. A lot of kids will be getting a couple of lessons a week and then be expected to do better than they did when they were having 4 lessons of week and a load of homework in Y11. It doesn't make any sense, particularly when they will have forgotten loads of it over the long Y11 summer holiday.

This is a really good point. I guess some are in smaller classes- particularly if some pass in November, but equally I know from friends who teach in FE, getting students to turn up to these lessons at all can be a challenge, let alone do additional homework etc.

We do have a few resitters each year in our sixth form, and the occasional student who didn't take GCSEs at all, but they are generally pretty motivated to do well which is probably a good part of the battle, and benefit from very small group teaching.

OP posts:
Original poster
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/10/2023 22:10

phlebasconsidered · 31/10/2023 07:53

Ds is at college now doing a trade. He missed his maths by 3 marks- last year he'd have passed but the grade boundary shift stuffed him. He only has 1 lesson of maths now in a class heaving with everyone else who also failed (it's clear the college planned on the grade boundaries not moving as much as they did) and there is no way he will pass it this November. Or ever will given that there is no room in his college day, or the staff for, for anything more.

That is a real shame. I hope if some pass in November, at least he'll get a smaller class size, but I can imagine it's really tough knowing he would have passed in 2022.

Maybe he will get lucky in November? I think grade boundaries are often lower then.

OP posts:
Original poster
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 31/10/2023 22:12

MrsHamlet · 31/10/2023 20:03

"we" don't want all students to pass though. The system doesn't allow it. So making anyone who doesn't get a 4 do a resit is stupid. They still can't all get 4s.

I agree, they can never all get a 4, so it does beg the question as to why we are making them do it, and not allowing students to focus on qualifications they stand a chance of achieving.

I can see the point of having the option there if students want to try again for their GCSE, but for those who got a U or a grade 1, for example, it does seem a real waste of time.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 31/10/2023 22:50

If they got a 2 or below they can do functional maths instead. If they got a 3 they have to resit GCSE.

Why do we (the govt) make them do it? I guess because some of them pass and it's a valuable qualification? It's good for the economy to have as many students with basic literacy and numeracy qualifications as possible.

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