Students wait for GCSE and BTec grades as app launches for 750 schools in England
Some pupils in England will be able to see their grades on their phones from 11:00 BST on Thursday.
On Thursday, students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE, BTec and other Level 2 results. For the first time, over 750 schools in England will offer students the opportunity to view their grades through an app, known as the Education Record app. The app will launch at 11:00 BST, allowing more than 750 secondary schools in England to provide their pupils with immediate access to their exam results on their mobile phones, complementing the traditional method of receiving grades in person.
The announcement comes amid the government's efforts to bolster technical education and address the rising number of resits in English and Maths GCSEs. Last year, 67.4% of GCSE entries were awarded grades 4/C or above. The app also aims to streamline the process of recording results for colleges and future employers, potentially reducing paperwork for both students and teachers.
In England, pupils who fail to achieve at least a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths are required to continue studying for these subjects alongside their chosen course, be it A-levels, T-levels, or something else. The Department for Education (DfE) does not consider resitting mandatory, but colleges typically enter students for these exams when they deem them prepared. Students who resit GCSE English and maths exams typically do so in November or May/June.
Last year, nearly a quarter of maths and English GCSEs were taken by individuals aged 17 and older, encompassing both mature students and younger people resitting papers. In May, a government-commissioned report highlighted research suggesting that around half of 18 to 25-year-olds in England without level 2 qualifications, including GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, had experienced time not in employment, education, or training.
Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith has indicated plans to introduce a new qualification aimed at bridging the gap for students often stuck in a cycle of taking exams and failing.
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