As students across the country digest their GCSE results, a pioneering resit programme at South and City College Birmingham (SCCB) has proved to be a game-changer for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Bringing together SCCB, with delivery partner Get Further and generously funded by the Warwickshire-based Rigby Foundation, the programme addresses the fact that whilst tutoring can be transformative for students who fall behind in English and maths, the cost puts it out of reach for many. By providing free extra tuition for students, this approach has removed that barrier.
60 students at SCCB followed weekly tutoring sessions to prepare for their resit exams in either (or both) maths or English GCSE – the key qualifications widely recognised as vital to unlocking access to further education, apprenticeships, and employment.
Pass rates for young people resitting GCSEs in the West Midlands have historically been below the national average. In 2023-24, just 16.8% of resit students in the region passed at grade 4 or above (standard pass) in GCSE English, whilst 12.6% secured a grade 4 or above in GCSE maths. Pass rates this year for students at SCCB on the Get Further programme, however, were 25% higher than the regional average in English and 59% higher in maths. These pass rates were also significantly higher than SCCB’s own resit results from last year – English enjoyed a 5-percentage point uplift at grade 4 and above, and maths saw a 9-percentage point increase.
Jacqui Maher, Deputy Principal at SCCB, commented:
“Congratulations to these students who’ve made such significant progress thanks to this innovative programme. However, this is about more than simply resitting an exam and getting a better grade. It’s about giving young people a second chance and ensuring that no student is held back because of their background.
“The gap in attainment at resit stage between students from disadvantaged backgrounds and their wealthier peers, continues to be well-documented. However, this programme demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when the funding is made available to support small groups of students in a targeted approach. Our thanks go to both Get Further and The Rigby Foundation in enabling us to offer this to our students.”
Speaking on behalf of The Rigby Foundation, which is dedicated to funding programmes that enable young people, regardless of their background, to access the best education possible and to have the chance of securing meaningful and sustainable employment, Steve Rigby, Chair, said:
“Too often, talented young people are held back by circumstances beyond their control.
“Our mission is hinged on wanting young people across the West Midlands from less advantaged backgrounds to have the same opportunities as their peers from wealthier families, and so we are proud to invest in their potential and to be part of a partnership that is delivering real, measurable impact.”
When exam results don’t go as planned and resits become necessary, access to high-quality tuition and support can be limited for many students. Get Further provides targeted tuition to support these students as Alice Eardley, Interim CEO, concludes:
“We know that with the right support, every student can succeed, it’s simply a case of making that support – and the funding to facilitate it – available.
“The programme at South and City College, with the generous funding from The Rigby Foundation, is a great example of what’s possible when organisations invest in ensuring young people from their communities have the support they need to succeed and access opportunities. They are filling crucial gaps left by current funding for the sector.”
