According to headteachers, pupils who took GCSEs this year were so anxious about their exams that they experienced panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia. The heads also noted that this year’s cohort faced unprecedented uncertainty regarding grades and progression to sixth-form.
On Thursday, GCSE results are expected to fall somewhere between those of 2019 and 2021, representing a return to normalcy while acknowledging the pandemic’s challenges. However, heads who spoke to The Guardian expressed concern that disadvantaged pupils who missed out on more learning would be disproportionately affected by grade deflation.
Headteacher Raza Ali of Luton’s Chalk Hills Academy claimed that pupils from low-income backgrounds had faced significant upheaval and disadvantage during the pandemic. He reported experiencing extreme anxiety and stress levels among his students during exams, with some even developing borderline suicidal thoughts. Ali does not believe the government fully comprehends the magnitude of the mental health challenge that schools face and that this will affect society for years to come.
Andy Webster, the headteacher of Park View School in North London, claimed that this year’s GCSE cohort was the most affected by Covid and inconsistent schooling. He is concerned that focusing on grades and numbers rather than catching up will harm this age group’s future prospects.
Angela Wallace, the headteacher of Woodside School in Haringey, noted that the situation was particularly challenging for her school. Since her school does not offer sixth-form, she believes that her students’ futures would be significantly impacted by the current grading system, and a lot rests on their scores.
James Eldon of the Manchester Academy noted that the pandemic had severely affected his school’s pupils and their families. Nonetheless, he praised their pragmatism and fortitude, stating that they saw the exams as a positive sign of normalcy returning.
