Government urged not to scrap GCSE resits
As the government considers whether to scrap GCSE resits, a Midlands charitable foundation argues that funding pioneering resit programmes is a game changer for disadvantaged young people from the region.
The Rigby Foundation, based in Warwickshire, is dedicated to funding programmes that enable young people, regardless of their background, to access the best education possible and to have the chance of securing meaningful and sustainable employment.
The foundation funds the Get Further resit programme, which takes place at South and City College Birmingham (SCCB).
The scheme addresses the fact that while tutoring can be transformative for students who fall behind in English and maths, the cost puts it out of reach for many.
By providing free extra tuition for students, this approach has removed that barrier.
Currently, 43 per cent of children in Birmingham live in poverty; the region has the highest poverty rates in England, with child poverty surging to 43 per cent in early 2025.
There are more than 130,000 children in Birmingham living in the bottom quintile of deprivation nationally, and the city is ranked the 7th most deprived local authority in England.
60 students at SCCB followed weekly tutoring sessions to prepare for their resit exams in either Maths or English GCSE.
Pass rates for young people resitting GCSEs in the West Midlands have historically been below the national average.
In 2023-24, just 16.8 per cent of resit students in the region passed at grade 4 or above (standard pass) in GCSE English, whilst 12.6 per cent secured a grade 4 or above in GCSE maths.
Pass rates this year for students at SCCB on the Get Further programme, however, were 25 per cent higher than the regional average in English and 59 per cent higher in Maths.
These pass rates were also significantly higher than SCCB's own resit results from last year – English enjoyed a 5-percentage point uplift at grade 4 and above, and maths saw a 9-percentage point increase.
Steve Rigby, chair of The Rigby Foundation said: “Too often, talented young people are held back by circumstances beyond their control.
“Our mission is hinged on wanting young people across the West Midlands from less advantaged backgrounds to have the same opportunities as their peers from wealthier families, and so we are proud to invest in their potential and to be part of a partnership that is delivering real, measurable impact.”
Jacqui Maher, deputy principal at SCCB, said: “Congratulations to these students who’ve made such significant progress thanks to this innovative programme.
“However, this is about more than simply resitting an exam and getting a better grade. It’s about giving young people a second chance and ensuring that no student is held back because of their background.
“The gap in attainment at the resit stage between students from disadvantaged backgrounds and their wealthier peers continues to be well-documented.
“However, this programme demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when the funding is made available to support small groups of students in a targeted approach.
“Our thanks go to both Get Further and The Rigby Foundation for enabling us to offer this to our students.”
Pictured: SCCB & The Rigby Foundation
