Exams
Stay informed on changes to GCSEs, A-levels, SATs, and alternative assessments. We cover grading policies, exam board decisions, and the evolving landscape of student assessment to help teachers and school leaders prepare effectively.
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Nov- 2025 -27 November
Ofqual revises arrangements data and urges exam boards to improve systems
Ofqual has published revised statistics on access arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels after withdrawing earlier figures in July due to recording and reporting errors and has urged exam boards to improve the access arrangements system. The regulator said the updated data, covering 2015 to 2016 through to 2024…
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19 November
NAHT urges govt to review SATs after campaigners raise concerns
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has called on ministers to reassess the role of statutory assessments after campaigners delivered an open letter to the education secretary arguing that current SATs tests “actively harm” children with special educational needs (SEND). The letter was supported by actor Anna Maxwell Martin…
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7 November
SQA research calls for action on pay and workload
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has published research into the experiences of National Qualifications markers, identifying high professional commitment alongside key challenges over pay and workload. The study, carried out between February and April 2025, surveyed 768 recent markers and 557 non-markers to explore recruitment and retention issues. Each year…
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Oct- 2025 -29 October
AQA acquires Realise Training to boost vocational education offer
Exam board AQA has officially acquired Realise Training Group in a move aimed at expanding its work in apprenticeships and adult education. Realise will operate as an independent subsidiary of AQA, a not-for-profit education charity, following the deal. AQA said the move would help raise standards across vocational and technical…
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Aug- 2025 -28 August
Gov extends HAF funding
The government has pledged £600m to extend the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for another three years, providing meals and activities for children from lower-income families during school holidays. Ministers said the initiative – first introduced nationally in 2021 – “helps to close development gaps, boost confidence and social…
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21 August
More than a fifth of students hit top GCSE grades
More than 6.5 million GCSE results have been issued to students in England today, with overall results similar to 2024, as 21.9% of students passed at grade 7 or above. This was slightly higher than the 21.8% reported in 2024, though grades at 4 and above fell slightly to 67.4%,…
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18 August
Boys continue to underperform at GCSE level, research finds
The “chronic” underperformance of boys at GCSEs should be treated as a “major issue” in the UK, according to the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham. The director of the centre, Professor Alan Smithers, said boys are not being developed as “fully” as they could…
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15 August
Poorer pupils more likely to drop out of A levels than get top STEM grade
Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are being “shut out” of the UK’s top-performing and best-paid career paths due to a lack of equal opportunity, according to new data analysis from Teach First. Following this week’s A level results, the education charity found that disadvantaged pupils were twice as likely to drop…
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15 August
NEU criticises ‘rigid’ exam system following A Level results day
The general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) has called for an overhaul of the exam system, describing it as “rigid” and unfit for assessing students fairly. Speaking on the day A-level and vocational technical qualification results were released (14 August), Daniel Kebede said: “Congratulations to all students receiving…
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14 August
Record number of students get first-choice university place
A record number of 18-year-olds in England have achieved their first choice university place, while top A level results have risen and T Levels continue to grow, the Department for Education (DfE) has said. It comes as hundreds of thousands of young people across England received their A level, T…
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