AoC responds to Education Policy Institute report on GCSE resits

David Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said: ‘’This report adds to a wide range of research which points to the need for a fundamental rethink about how the education system supports more young people to become confident and proficient in English and maths. The system we have is letting down too many children at every stage, such that by age 16 a very large number feel like they have failed, when the failure is on the whole education system, not the individual child or young person.

"After ten years of restrictive post-16 English and maths funding requirements, our education system is still struggling, despite the dedicated efforts of colleges and schools. We need a clear and focused discussion on how to improve the entire education system to better support English and maths progress from key stage 4 through the 16 to 19 phase and beyond."

"The report rightly highlights the importance of motivation, engagement and attendance in key stage 4 and into colleges. We believe that can only be achieved from a new approach. We urge policy makers to work with the whole sector and awarding bodies to design a motivating curriculum and qualification which allow students to show what they can do and demonstrate success.’’

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