Teenagers who are not in school are being offered the opportunity to sit GCSEs free of charge under a unique project aimed at removing barriers to access.
The pilot scheme, led by Exeter University, means that children who are home-educated, often because of SEND, will be able to take their exams without incurring huge costs or having to travel long distances to exam centres.
Dr Luke Graham, senior lecturer at the university, said: “Every child should have access to GCSE exams and, to have a whole population of young people who physically, geographically or financially can’t access those exams is limiting them in making fair progress in the education system.”
High costs of private entry
While privately-run exam centres operate in many parts of the UK, there are none in this part of the South-West.
Entering for GCSEs as a home-educated candidate can cost around £300 per subject, making it inaccessible for many families. This includes entry fees paid to the exam boards, as well as charges imposed by exam centres.
Elective home education (EHE) in England has reached an estimated rate of 1.5% of children aged five to 16, Department of Education figures for the autumn 2025-26 term show.
Devon and Cornwall’s rates are higher than the national average at 2.7% and 2.9% respectively.
Researchers from the university said many were thought to have been “off-rolled” or withdrawn due to unmet special educational needs, with only an estimated 5-10% where home education had been actively chosen, according to the BBC.
Children in the UK are not legally required to take GCSEs or any specific qualification. But researchers at the university recognised that many home-educated youngsters want to sit exams, because it improved their life chances.
Opportunities to thrive
The university has partnered with Exeter College, Cornwall Council, Devon County Council and the exam board AQA to run the project.
More than 30 young people will sit mock exams, before taking their GCSEs this summer in English and maths, as part of the trial.
It is hoped many will then go on to further education and some of the young people already had offers to study at Exeter College, project leaders said.
Prof Anna Mountford-Zimdars, who is leading the project alongside Graham, said: “We hope this work will reduce the number of young people who are [not in education, employment and training] NEET in the region and give them an opportunity to thrive.
“We are sure this will change lives.”
If the pilot is successful, those using the exam centre in future will be given academic coaching by the university’s trainee teachers, with as many as 200 candidates taking their GCSEs there each year, the university said.
