Responding after Ofqual withdrew its figures on use of access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A level exams from 2014 to 2024, after identifying issues with the statistics, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“While it is regrettable that problems have been identified with these statistics, Ofqual has done the right thing in withdrawing them and working to correct and republish them. Having correct datasets on access arrangements is vital to identify trends and changes across the system.

“School leaders have certainly seen more requests for access arrangements in recent years in the aftermath of Covid, increased reports of anxiety and mental ill-health, and significant rises in numbers of children with additional needs.

“More broadly, we have called for use of high-stakes final exams to be reduced as part of the government’s curriculum and assessment review. Instead, assessment must be developed to better meet the needs of most young people and allow them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.”