Medway Labour and Cooperative Group today congratulated students throughout Medway who received their GCSE results.  The results are the first based on external examinations since the Covid pandemic, as were last week’s A Level  results.

Cllr Jo Howcroft-Scott, Medway Labour and Cooperative member of Medway Council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said today, ‘I have been a school governor for thirty years.  I know how hard students and their families, teachers and school leaders have worked to prepare for the examinations.  Unfortunately, the government’s record over the pandemic for schools and colleges has been poor and students have had unnecessary worry and stress.  The resilience they have shown is a real credit to them.’

Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Cooperative Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said today, ‘After a difficult few years for our young people, they deserve all the credit for their response.  We congratulate them on their success today.  However, the government should do better.  There are still BTEC results overdue from last week.  The Conservative Secretary of State for Education, James Cleverly, needs to get a grip and ensure that our Medway students are not disadvantaged.  Young people have suffered unduly over the period of the pandemic and the government treated students, schools and colleges very poorly.  It is vital that government steps up to support them and provide the long-term support to ensure they achieve their goals.’