Labour

Stephen Twigg responds to GCSE results

Stephen Twigg MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to today’s GCSE results, said:

"It’s right that today we celebrate the achievement through hard work of many pupils and their teachers.

"There are many schools which have achieved a hugely impressive set of results, including both academies and community schools which benefited from investment and reform during a Labour Government. It’s critical that we understand why these schools have done so well, so that we can ensure other schools can learn from them.

"However, we know how important core subjects like English and Maths are. We need to understand why results have fallen in these subjects. Is it because of pressure from Ofqual to shift grade boundaries?

"Concerns have been raised regarding the English GCSE in some quarters. As well as ensuring standards remain rigorous, we must ensure all pupils are treated consistently and fairly.

"We support the new, rigorous Science GCSE, which was developed in 2009 and is being studied by many more candidates. There is also extremely welcome news on more students studying subjects such as Modern Foreign Languages, History, Geography and Religious Studies.

"Labour support reform that works to strengthen qualifications and standards, but only on the best available evidence."