Are GCSEs in Wales leading to burnout? #GCSE #Wales #BBCNews

A BBC News segment examines growing concerns about the mental and academic strain placed on students in Wales under the newly introduced GCSE qualifications. According to a survey conducted by the teaching union NASUWT, many pupils and staff in Wales are experiencing severe stress, exhaustion, and a sense of being overwhelmed — symptoms consistent with burnout.

The new qualifications, introduced in Wales in September, differ significantly from those in other parts of the UK. In Wales, 40% of the final grade is made up of non-examined assessments (NEAs) conducted under teacher supervision during school hours. By contrast, England places greater emphasis on final exams, and Scotland offers 'National Fives' across more than 50 subjects. Welsh pupils are now required to complete up to 26 hours of assessments in some subjects over a two-year period, all during school time.

Student voices in the report reflect the real-world impact of this system. One student described staying behind most lunchtimes to complete Religious Studies work, feeling that the time cost was socially isolating. Another student highlighted the stress caused by teachers themselves being uncertain about exam content, leading to information overload as teachers try to cover as much material as possible.

Qualifications Wales responded by stating that the new GCSEs were designed to meet curriculum requirements and to build greater resilience into the qualification system — a need identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the tension between institutional rationale and student wellbeing remains a central concern raised by the report.