Congratulations to all of our students for record GCSE results, but calls for an urgent educational ‘Recovery Plan’ grow louder
Congratulations to all North East GCSE students
Schools North East wants to pass on its congratulations to all North East students on their amazing 2021 GCSE results. A record 24.5% have achieved grades of 7 and over. As well as being a phenomenal achievement for our region’s students and a testament to their hard work, dedication, and determination, today’s results also see a rise from the 22% who achieved the same grade in 2020. 75.5% of the region’s students also achieved grades of 4 or above, a 1.7% increase from last year.
These results have been achieved despite a tumultuous year for our schools and their students. The far reaching effects of the Coronavirus outbreak have created unprecedented and extremely challenging environments within our region’s schools. Despite this, our region’s young people have risen to the challenge and must be unreservedly congratulated.
Results a tribute to teachers after another demanding Covid-hit year
Today’s results would not have been possible without the hard work and perseverance of North East schools and their staff throughout covid. This is something that should be widely celebrated. However, nowhere near enough has been done to recognise or mitigate the impact Covid-19 has had on them or schools and students across the region. Director of Schools North East, Chris Zarraga, said: “Today’s results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our school staff and their students. Schools have worked incredibly hard to ensure that student grades are robust and credible, despite the North East region being one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.”
“We are incredibly proud of our school staff who have stepped up under unbelievably difficult circumstances. The civic role that they have played throughout the pandemic has been second to none. They have truly been the ‘fourth emergency service’.”
How North East’s results compare to the national picture
Whilst we are unreservedly proud of our students’ results today, the question must be asked: has the impact of covid on our schools and young people been recognised and has an appropriate account been taken of this in regard to GCSE assessment? All of the available data points to the fact that the North East has been the region hit the hardest by this pandemic and it is the same for our schools.
Throughout the 2020-21 academic year, North East schools were decimated by positive cases and forced isolations. All regions saw increases in absence levels towards the end of the summer term, with the biggest rise in the North East (+7%) and the smallest in the South West (+2%). Despite today’s fantastic results demonstrating a 2.5% increase from last year and the fifth largest increase for any region, the North East sits 8th among the nine regions within the country, reflecting the lack of additional support that the region’s schools have received in this period, despite everything they have faced.
National education ‘recovery’ plan urgently required
While the headlines today will be about the GCSE results and the efforts of our students, it is vital that we begin to plan for next year’s A Level and GCSE results now, providing our schools with the support and guidance they need to move forward from the pandemic. More importantly, the experience of North East schools during the pandemic must be recognised by the Government to ensure that next year’s planned return to examinations at GCSE does not unfairly penalise North East students.
Chris Zarraga said: “It must be noted that these results are despite a lack of adequate support for our schools, their staff, and their students. It is increasingly a matter of urgency that the Government creates an appropriate education ‘recovery’ plan, that recognises the impact of Covid on our region and supports our schools to move forward confidently and quickly.”
The Education Secretary now has to provide our schools with a properly thought through and resourced ‘recovery’ plan, including clear, simple, accurate and – most importantly – early guidance with regards to next year’s exams. The regional disparities in GCSE results show that real urgency is required to create a recovery plan that supports our students now and in the future and that this cannot wait any longer.
Rather than bring in a ‘one size fits all’ approach, the Government must ensure that the areas hit hardest by COVID-19, particularly the North East, are supported – rather than penalised – through any difficulties the next academic year may bring.
Find out more about Schools North East’s call for a Recovery Plan here