Early GCSEs hit the pause button – schools told to ditch the exam‑factory model

Education Secretary Lucy Powell has warned that teaching GCSEs to younger pupils could turn secondary schools into “exam factories”. In a recent speech she said the pressure to cram exam content into Year 8 and Year 9 risks creating a generation that treats exams like a daily routine.

As part of a sweeping overhaul of England’s national curriculum, schools will be instructed to stop teaching GCSEs until students reach Year 10. In practical terms, pupils in Year 8 and Year 9 will no longer sit for GCSE‑level assessments, giving them a few extra years of learning without the pressure of formal exams.

The announcement has been welcomed by many teachers, who see it as a chance to focus on broader learning rather than early test preparation. Critics have long argued that the current system encourages schools to prioritize exam preparation over creative education, and Powell’s warning reinforces that concern.

Powell urged schools to avoid the “exam factory” trap and instead create environments where learning is driven by curiosity rather than ticking exam clocks. The policy change is set to be implemented as the curriculum overhaul rolls out over the coming months.