The education secretary has announced that GCSE students will continue to receive formula and equation sheets during their exams for at least the next three years. Originally introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, these aids were expected to be phased out after 2024. However, in a letter to England's exams regulator, Ofqual, Bridget Phillipson emphasized the ongoing impact of the pandemic on students and requested that this support remain in place for those sitting exams in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
The decision has been welcomed by teaching unions, with many hoping this change could become permanent. The exam aids, first introduced in 2022, were designed to mitigate the effects of lost learning time due to Covid-19.
The previous government had planned to return to pre-pandemic exam conditions in 2025, but Phillipson argued that such a move would be premature. She highlighted that the government's upcoming curriculum and assessment review, which is set to report back next year, may suggest further long-term changes.
Phillipson's request was met with approval from various educational leaders. They argued that exams should focus on students' ability to apply knowledge, rather than memorization of formulae and equations. A consultation period on the proposed changes has now been launched by Ofqual, with its chief regulator stressing the importance of giving students and teachers clear guidance on future exam arrangements.
