GCSE effects day to modify for 1000’s of scholars with new app

Tens of 1000’s of GCSE scholars gets their grades in an app on their telephones on effects day this summer time.

The executive is trialling the Education Record app with 95,000 scholars in Manchester and the West Midlands, forward of a countrywide rollout.

Ministers say they hope it’ll lower your expenses for varsity admissions groups, whilst faculty leaders say scholars and colleges will want “seamless support” to verify the app works correctly.

Students concerned within the pilot will nonetheless have the ability to cross to college to get their paper effects and do the standard opening of the envelope on effects day in August.

Under the plans, scholars’ effects will likely be made to be had at the app at 11:00 on effects day, which is Thursday 21 August.

Students amassing their ends up in individual can accomplish that from 08:00.

This yr’s first GCSE checks started on Monday 5 May, and can ultimate till Wednesday 25 June.

The executive’s plan is to carry every pupil’s examination effects and certificate into one on-line set of virtual training information.

Students who’re below 18 after completing their GCSEs have to stick in full-time training, get started an apprenticeship or paintings whilst learning part-time.

The executive says the brand new app will imply additional training faculties now not have to rent additional personnel to photocopy effects or chase lacking bureaucracy from potential scholars.

Education minister Stephen Morgan mentioned it used to be “high time exam records were brought into the 21st century” and that it might prevent colleges and faculties being “bogged down in bureaucracy”.

Mark Giles, major at The Hathershaw College in Oldham, mentioned the app used to be “accurate and verifiable” after engaging in an area trial at his faculty since ultimate spring.

Other faculty leaders have welcomed the pilot. James Bowen, assistant normal secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) mentioned his union used to be “pleased the app is being piloted”.

“It makes a lot of sense to look into modernising how exam results are handled and any moves to cut bureaucracy and costs are welcome,” he mentioned.

But he mentioned it might be necessary that the app’s rollout is finished in moderation, with “seamless support” for college students and colleges if problems rise up.

“When we are dealing with something as important as exam results it is crucial that the government gets this absolutely right,” he mentioned.

Pepe Di’Iasio, normal secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) additionally welcomed the transfer, and referred to as for using virtual generation in training to move even additional.

He mentioned the virtual method will have to be prolonged to checks themselves, which can be nonetheless performed the use of pen and paper and will create a “massive burden” for colleges who’re required to safely shipping 1000’s of examination papers.

He mentioned the advance of training generation had up to now been “frustratingly piecemeal”, including that the federal government will have to “invest in creating the infrastructure schools and colleges need to make this a reality“.