The Green Party has criticised the Department for Education over the impact of 'arbitrary' changes to the testing regime on pupils, as today's GCSE results saw the biggest fall in A*-C grades since the creation of the qualification in 1988.
The Party's education spokesperson Vix Lowthion said:
"I'd like to offer my congratulations to all those celebrating their GCSE results today - and my sympathies to those who have been let down by our seriously flawed education system despite their best efforts.
“The serious dip in this year’s GCSE results comes amidst yet another wave of changes to the testing regime. Justine Greening would do well to remember that while the Department for Education attempts, seemingly through arbitrary trial and error, to find a system they are satisfied with, thousands of pupils every year are seeing their hopes dashed by these fluctuations.
“It’s also deeply concerning to see a significant drop in the number of pupils taking creative subjects at GCSE level. Perhaps we should not be surprised, given the previous education secretary's belief that arts subjects limit young people’s career choices, but it is saddening to see this damaging attitude pervading schools. Arts subjects unlock all sorts of doors, as well as broadening pupils’ horizons, and we must not accept the devaluation of arts and humanities qualifications.”