Compulsory maths and English GCSE resits too inflexible, says curriculum chief

Becky Francis says pupils condemned to retaking maths and English face blocks to progress' and system needs overhaul

The requirement that children who fail GCSE maths and English must repeatedly resit the exams is too inflexible and needs to be overhauled, according to Becky Francis, the head of the government's curriculum review.

Francis said the full review, ordered by the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, would be published in a few weeks" and supports changes expected in a forthcoming white paper to England's resits policy that requires pupils who fail to reach a grade 4 in maths and English to keep retaking them while in post-16 schooling.