The DfE is being asked to allow flexibilities in how the £96 million catch-up fund for students is spent after GCSE results show an 8.9 percentage point increase in GCSE passes and a fear that some of those students with a grade 4 in GCSE maths and English may still need some support in their level 3 study following the lack of Year 11 teaching due to COVID-19 lockdown. The current guidance for the support fund is that it is for those who have not achieved a grade 4 or above in at least GCSE maths or English by age 16. More on this is available here.
