Tameside students earn GCSE success in the first exams for three years

STUDENTS in Tameside today have collected their GCSE exam results for the first time in three years, due to disruptions to exams from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most exams and assessments did not take place in the 2019/20 or 2020/21 academic years due to the pandemic.

Despite the significant impact of COVID-19 on students and schools during the 2021/22 academic year, exams and assessments for GCSEs, AS and A Levels did go ahead.

Students who took their GCSEs this summer have experienced COVID-19 disruption to learning for the entirety of their GCSE courses. Despite this, many students have earned remarkable successes to achieve their goals and progress onto sixth form, college, apprenticeships, training or work.

Tameside Council, schools, and colleges, have worked hard to ensure that support is in place to help students get on the right post-16 pathways, including the right college course or training option.

Councillor Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council Executive Member for Education, Achievement and Equalities said: “I am immensely proud of our Class of 2022 GCSE students who have experienced disruption to their education due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This year’s GCSE cohort of students has studied the whole GCSE curriculum within the context of a pandemic, being in Year 9 when the country went into its first national lockdown in March 2020 and have had only two full years of secondary school without restrictions. These young people should be very proud of, and take time to recognise, their accomplishments in such difficult circumstances.

"Our focus is on ensuring that all our young people are supported to get on the right post-16 pathways, including the right college course or training option post study.”

Positive Steps Careers Service are available to provide independent career advice by calling 0800 484 0407 / 0161 621 9292 or emailing tamesidecareers@positive-steps.org.uk.