THE “EXTREMELY high stakes” of new GCSE exams are contributing to poor mental health among students, warns the National Education Union (NEU).

On the eve of teenagers receiving their GCSE results tomorrow, NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said the union was “deeply concerned about the pressure and stress these new GCSEs have put on students and school and college staff.”

He said that “removing most coursework and other non-exam assessment and just using end-of-course exams” was damaging students’ mental health.