A pupil taking a typical set of new reformed GCSEs will sit about
eight hours more exams than under the old system, analysis by the
Association of School and College Leaders has found.
Pupils in England receive their results in the first three
reformed GCSE subjects today (Thursday 24 August) – English
language, English literature and mathematics – which are graded 9
to1 instead of A* to G. Another 20 subjects will follow suit in
2018, and more in 2019.
ASCL is concerned that the new GCSEs – which are also more
challenging – are already causing increased stress and anxiety to
pupils, and that this will intensify next year.
The reformed exams feature less controlled assessment, and more
exam papers. This increased number of exams is concentrated into
a six-week period in May and June and many school leaders are
concerned about the potential impact on young people of such
intense pressure.
Maths has increased from two papers to three papers, and English
language from one to two papers. Additionally, many pupils
previously sat a single qualification in English which has now
been scrapped. School performance tables mean pupils have to be
entered for both English language and English literature.
ASCL compared the exam timetables of two students sitting a
similar set of exams under the old system and the reformed
system.
Student A, who took old-style GCSEs in the summer of 2016, sat 18
exams – the total length of which was 24 hours and 30 minutes.
Student B, who will take new GCSEs in the same subjects in the
summer of 2019, will sit 22 exams – the total length of which
will be 33 hours.
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “We have already had reports from members
of increased stress and anxiety among pupils this year, and this
will intensify next year.
“We know from numerous reports that there is a rising tide of
mental health issues among young people and we are concerned the
new exams will make the situation worse.
“The new GCSEs are more challenging, and there are more papers,
and this is putting severe pressure on young people. We support a
robust qualification system, but it has to be balanced against
the welfare of young people, and we are not sure the balance in
the new system is correct.
“We will be talking to the Department for Education to see if
there are ways to mitigate the impact on young people.”
Commenting on this year’s changes, one school leader said: “The
increased amount of examinations and examination time has had a
huge impact on the children. I have increasingly seen more stress
and mental health-related incidents due to these changes.”
Another said: “Clearly this has put an additional pressure on the
students which seems ironic when the government is highlighting
the need to support our young people and their mental health.”
Student A sat the following exams in the summer of
2016:
• English Language – One
2¼ hr exam worth 60% of assessment, plus 40% controlled
assessment.
• English Literature –
One 1 ½ hr exam and one exam of 1 ¼ hr.
• Maths – Two 1¾ hr
exams
• Core and additional
science – Total of six 1 hr exams (75%), controlled assessment
(25%)
• Spanish – One 50 min
exam (20%), one 40 min exam (20%), plus 60% controlled assessment
• Religious Studies –
Two 1½ hrs exams
• Design and technology
– One 2 hr exam worth 40% of assessment, plus 60% controlled
assessment
• History – One exam of
2 hrs (45%) and one exam of 1½ hr (30%), plus 25% controlled
assessment
• Drama – No exam, 100%
practical assessment with written elements
Total number of exams - 18
Total exam length – 24 ½ hrs
Student B will take the following exams in the summer
of 2019
• English Language - Two
1¾ hr exams
• English Literature –
One 2¼ hr exam, one 1¾ hr exam
• Maths – Three 1½ hr
exams
• Combined Science - Six
1¼ hr exams
• Spanish – One 45 min
exam, one 1hr exam, one 1¼ hr exam, plus 25% non-exam assessment
• Religious Studies -
Two 1¾ hr exams
• Design and technology
– One 2 hr exam (50%), plus 50% non-exam assessment
• History – Two 1¾ hr
exams
• Drama – One 1½ hr exam
(40%), plus 60% non-exam assessment
Total number of exams - 22
Total exam length - 33 hrs
Note: Figures are based on exam timetables for two students at a
school in south east England. Exams are in assorted boards. There
are minor variations between exam boards.
ASCL has published a factsheet about the new GCSEs which can be read
here.
