Councillor says covid is still affecting learning
Students collecting GCSEs today were moving to secondary school in the middle of the pandemic.
Covid is still impacting students learning according to a North Northants Councillor.
Elizabeth Wright is Councillor for Children, Families and Education and makes the comments as GCSE results will be revealed across Northamptonshire and the country.
Students collecting GCSEs today were moving to secondary school in the middle of the pandemic as Cllr Wright explains:
"They perhaps started school when we were in COVID. So we would have had all of that challenging times in the pandemic.
"So to come out now year five later and to achieve the results that are being achieved is amazing because unfortunately the amount of anxiety has grown since the pandemic it for a lot of people and a lot of students, it was quite an alone time."
More than one in five entries expected to score the top grades.
Pupils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving GCSE and level 2 vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) grades to help them progress on to sixth form, college or training.
Teenagers could face more competition for sixth form places this summer, it has been suggested.
Cllr Wright says the affects of the pandemic are still being felt:
"Unfortunately some students are struggling to get into that learning pattern, like with revision. And we we are seeing a factor on that. We're seeing that through obviously unfortunately the trend in SEND and SEND is having a big impact from the pandemic and we're seeing that throughout all of the years."
She says help is available for students, if they're anxious or worried about results. They should speak to teachers, or look to the North Northants Council website.
In England, Ofqual brought GCSE grading standards back in line with pre-Covid levels in 2023, and exam regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland returned to pre-pandemic grading last year.
The move came after Covid-19 led to an increase in top GCSE grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.
Many of the pupils who are receiving their GCSE results this summer were in Year 6 when schools closed because of the pandemic.