Covid disruption must still be taken into account in 2023 GCSEs, say schools

Calls for mitigation measures to persist on day 2022 grades show downturn in line with official policy

A full return to pre-pandemic GCSE examinations and grades should be delayed for a further year because next year's cohort will need special adjustments due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, according to school leaders.

On the day that about 600,000 pupils in England received their GCSE results after sitting the first public examinations in three years, the Association of School and College Leaders said pupils who are due to face exams next summer have also been disadvantaged by Covid and may require similar mitigations to this year's cohort.