New GCSE grading system is “chaotic”, Labour says

Changes to the GCSE grading system has been criticised by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

When asked about his views on the new grading system at an event launching the Party’s education policies for the general election, Corbyn said that he felt for pupils “going through the trauma of starting GCSEs”.

GCSEs were previously graded alphabetically, however, a shake-up to the grading system means that pupils will receive a numerical mark instead.

Corbyn continued: "Going through day after day of that very complex matrix of exams and knowing that the grading system has been so changed that they’re going to feel a bit devalued at the end of it.

"That has to be explained, it has to be explained in the publication of the results and it has to be explained to all future employers and universities exactly what it means to have done your GCSEs in 2017 compared to 2016."

"It is a very traumatic time and you think of all the students working really really hard."

Angela Rayner, Labour's shadow education secretary, said the changes had been "chaotic" and that half of businesses “don’t even know that this new grading system is coming in”.