THE English Secondary Students’ Association (ESSA) wishes the thousands of young people across England collecting their GCSE results today the best of luck, and asks the Government, Media and General Public not to jump to unfair conclusions about secondary education.

“After the months of hard work and determination displayed by thousands of teenagers over the past two years, and against today’s backdrop of success and pride, no doubt some people will continue to talk of a ‘dumbed down’ examination system” said ESSA’s Council member for the North West, Marcus Buck (aged 17). “Not only does this undermine the achievements of the nation’s youth, it is far too simplistic in what is a complex debate in modern education.”

Indeed, ESSA has identified a number of reasons for the number of students achieving so many high grades in recent years. Firstly, students are becoming increasingly aware of ‘Assessment Objectives’, the criteria used by examiners when marking papers. Far from being ‘hoops to jump through’, these provide a level playing field for all students, and add transparency to the marking process. Candidates are able to tailor their knowledge to answering the question precisely, without wasting time with unnecessary details.

ESSA member Joseph Ammoun (18, South East region) observes: “It is possible for the student to focus on two or three specific topics for certain exam papers, confident that those areas will be explored. This has nothing to do with the ease of the paper, but a tighter, more clearly defined specification means students will be able to focus their energies and abilities more productively.”

Finally, ESSA believes today’s students are more aware of the need for good GCSE grades, and so are working harder than ever to achieve them. “Entrance to further education and university is getting more and more competitive,” notes Olivia Amos, aged 16 from Liverpool. “Young people are acutely aware of this, and therefore approach their revision with energy and dedication. This doesn’t apply to everyone of course, but teenagers are a lot more focused than some adults give them credit,” she adds.

Most importantly, students should use Results Day to make informed decisions about their future. “I can still remember getting my GCSE results last year – it was certainly a nerve-wracking experience! says Jack Lewars, Executive Council member for the East (aged 17). “I was pleased with my grades, but if a student doesn’t do as well as they hoped there are plenty of opportunities out there. Students should use all available sources of information and advice, and not rush when making important decisions. For example, teachers can offer personal advice when grades don’t live up to expectations, whilst local libraries and Connexions services should be able to provide you with details of local colleges or training providers.”

Whatever a student decides to do – take A-Levels, study for other qualifications, seek employment or find a training programme – ESSA wishes them the best of luck, and reminds them that 11-19 year olds in secondary education can join ESSA for free to add their voice to the education debate

ENDS

Notes to editor:

1) ESSA, a student-led organisation working to become the representative body for secondary students in England, aims to support students in expressing their views about education by providing workshops and a network of support with other secondary school students. The people who make decisions about ESSA's activities are young people who are, or have recently been, part of the education system. They are given advice and support by adults, but the decisions about ESSA's aims and activities are taken by students. Two members are elected to represent each of the nine English regions, and attend regular Executive Council meetings in London to discuss the organisation’s policy and direction.

2) The Chairman and Founder of ESSA is Rajeeb Dey, who established the organisation whilst still at school. Raj was recently awarded a Young Leaders Award from the Royal Society of Arts and a Wavemakers Award by Sir John Major. He is currently reading Economics & Management at Jesus College, Oxford. Contact him on  rajeeb@studentvoice.co.uk

3) ESSA is currently in the process of designing a membership package for schools. In the meantime, any young person in secondary education (aged 11-19) can join for free at www.studentvoice.co.uk, and then contribute to forums and help spread the word about Student Voice.

4) Enquiries or interview requests should be made to Marcus Buck, Executive Council Member for the North West region and head of ESSA’s Press & Marketing Department on 0151 220 5645 or 07963 512 425. During term-time, ESSA’s office can be contacted on 0207 022 1910.