Mandate end-of-year exams on core subjects in secondary schools. Students who do not meet the standards should have an opportunity to resit the year in order to ensure they understand the fundamental skills for success in following years.

We believe the current system does not reflect a student's understanding and mastery of the curriculum throughout their career at school and can condemn many students each year to fail at their final GCSE hurdle. There should be rigorous exams at the end of every secondary school year, with the understanding that failing will then result in resitting, or otherwise catching up. Ensuring students have foundational knowledge will help strengthen academic rigour, purpose, and success.