Understandably, Y11s and Y13s are going through significant stress due to the uncertainty of the current world regarding COVID and the impact of it on their GCSE exams, however, Y10s are never mentioned by anyone. 

Learning in this climate is impossible for any child to cope, and certainly, for a Year 10 student who is learning their GCSE curriculum, entering preparation for GCSE examinations and having to juggle all this remotely without much recognition would be unquestionably difficult.

Y10s have missed vital and necessary content for their GCSEs for over 10 months and will inevitably continue to miss that in their time before GCSEs. Also due to government guidelines, continuously changing for schools, half of the lessons in school are now managed by non-permanent, supply teachers which further reduces the quality of learning in school anyway. The lack of preparation by the government for 2022 GCSEs is evident.

No one can deny that these frequent lockdowns and changes have taken a toll on our mental health and wellbeing, and it's no different for these children who are going through such a stressful time in their lives and losing motivation for their learning.

Therefore, it would be of the utmost importance for the government and the Education Secretary to address now what will be done for 2022s GCSE students and provide guidance for a way forward.