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Pupils will get two chances to resit legacy GCSEs, Ofqual announces

Ofqual has announced today that pupils who miss out on a C grade in English or maths GCSE this summer will have two resit chances.

The GCSEs in English, English language and maths are due to be replaced by the government’s supposedly tougher reformed subjects after pupils have sat the last exams this year.

Ofqual had proposed plans for those pupils to have an additional resit opportunity. A consultation by the regulator found that 96 per cent of respondents agreed with the plans and the regulator has today formalised the proposals.

The regulator said exam boards must provide two resit opportunities for these subjects; one in November 2016 and one in summer 2017.

For those taking GCSE science in summer 2017, exam boards will offer a resit in or before summer 2018, the regulator added.

Julie Swan, acting executive director for general qualifications at Ofqual, said the move is “crucial in allowing students to progress”.

“This is essential to maintain fairness between cohorts, particularly at such a pivotal point in students’ academic careers. We came to these decisions after our consultation showed overwhelming support for them.”

AS and A level students will also have the chance to undertake legacy resits, in the following May or June.

Ms Swan added: “We are placing restrictions on who can take these resits. These are to ensure that only those students who need to access a resit take them and those that we expect to take a reformed GCSE, AS or A level qualification do that instead.”

The consultation closed last month. It received more than 400 responses and can be read here.

The dates for last teaching, last exams and resits in legacy GCSEs, AS and A levels has also been updated.

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