[Comment] The long shadow of academic pressure

In the UK, it is compulsory to stay in education or training until age 18 years. However, recent funding changes for post-16 programmes in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales require at least grade 4 (equivalent to grade C in the previous grading system) in English and Maths General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) to progress to further study or training. GCSEs are exams sat by students aged 15–16 years at the end of secondary education. This requirement has resulted in more students having to resit exams, sometimes repeatedly, although pass rates among resit candidates remain low.