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.

Mr Courtney also warned that the need for teachers to set aside more time to “get through the more difficult and increased amount of content” was "squeezing out time for subjects such as music, drama, art and technology.”
 
He added: “Schools and colleges should be freed from the current EBacc and Progress 8 straitjackets and able to offer courses and activities which develop academic, vocational, personal development and life skills alongside, rather than at the expense of knowledge, since all are important for life outside education.”