Decades of data show GCSE English resit pass rates languishing at historic lows – hovering under 20 per cent overall, and barely 10 per cent for 18- and 19-year-olds. If Ofsted inspected the Department for Education on this dismal record, it would be a severe finger-wagging moment. Yet successive policy interventions have done nothing to alter the downward trajectory. Why? Because sector leaders and policymakers have consistently tried to address the symptoms of under-performance rather than root causes. As with any quality-improvement journey, the golden rule remains: you can never fix under-performance by treating the symptom. You can only fix the root-cause issue. But what is it? During an inspection, I once observed a level 2 beauty therapy class. Resplendent in their uniforms, the students arrived early, took great pride in managing their learning challenges with minimal instruction. They loved what they were doing. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits. subscribe If you have an account, please login. Sign in