Another post-pandemic cohort has shown its resilience and talent. But growing inequalities of outcome must be addressed
Most pupils who received their GCSE results this week were in the penultimate year of primary school when Covid struck, disrupting their preparation for secondary education. As with other post-pandemic cohorts, their achievements are therefore a testament to their ability, resilience and determination. A strong set of results, particularly in the core subjects of English and maths, should also be seen as a tribute to teachers dealing with ever expanding workloads.
Overall the impression is one of a welcome return to stability, as the legacy of the years of cancelled exams and teacher assessments is left behind. The proportion of top grades awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose compared with last year, but only by a tenth of a percentage point, while the overall pass rate fell by the same margin to 67.3% – the same as in 2019. Nevertheless, the latest results throw up familiar grounds for concern.
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