# UK education system reform and inequality concerns > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-education-system-reform-and-inequality-concerns > Updated: 2026-08-21T05:00:49.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The United Kingdom is facing scrutiny over its education system, specifically regarding GCSE outcomes and student support structures. Education Secretary Lucy Powell has announced plans to overhaul the GCSE resit system for English and maths. Describing the current cycle as a “treadmill of failure,” the government intends to introduce Level 1 qualifications by 2028 to serve as “stepping stones” for students who score a grade 2 or below. This proposal follows a curriculum review and criticism from the Association of School and College Leaders, which argued the current repetitive exam structure limits career options. Simultaneously, inquiries have highlighted significant disparities in educational achievement among white working-class pupils. Data from 2025 showed that only 36% of White British students eligible for free school meals achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths, compared to 72% of those not eligible. Critics, including Lord Sewell, have suggested that the system may be overlooking the struggles of disadvantaged white British children by focusing on other demographic groups. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-21: UK education system overlooking white working-class pupils Reports highlight a crisis in UK education for white working-class children, with only 36% of those on free school meals achieving passing GCSE grades in English and maths. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-education-system-overlooking-white-working-class-pupils ### 2026-08-20: UK Education Secretary pledges overhaul of GCSE resit system The UK government plans to overhaul the GCSE resit system by introducing Level 1 qualifications to break the “treadmill of failure” for students failing English and maths. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-education-secretary-pledges-overhaul-of-gcse-resit-system --- Cite as: UK education system reform and inequality concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-education-system-reform-and-inequality-concerns