Did you know? GCSE Results Day will look a little different this year, with the Department for Education introducing the new Education Record app.
For the first time, eligible Year 11 students across England will be able to access their GCSE results digitally. While the tradition of opening results alongside teachers and friends isn’t going anywhere, the new app offers an additional secure way for young people to mark this milestone and prepare for their next steps.
What is the Education Record app?
The Education Record app is designed to modernise how young people view and store their exam results.
Instead of relying solely on paper certificates, eligible students will have a secure digital record of their qualifications that they can access whenever they need them. Over time, the app is expected to become a lifelong record of educational achievements, making it easier to provide verified qualifications when applying for further education, apprenticeships or employment.
Will Results Day still be the same?
Yes. While the introduction of the Education Record app is a significant change, the traditional Results Day experience remains the same.
Students should still attend school as normal to collect their results in person, celebrate their achievements with friends and teachers, and receive advice and guidance about their next steps.
The app simply provides an additional way to access results digitally later in the morning.
How does the Education Record app actually work?
Setting up the app is straightforward.
Before or on Results Day, students will receive a personal QR code from a member of school staff. Scanning this code securely links their identity to their official Department for Education Record.
Once activated, students can view information including:
- GCSE results,
- Name and date of birth,
- Address,
- Schools attended,
- Other relevant education information held within their record.
What are the benefits?
Alongside GCSE results, the Education Record can provide authorised education providers with important context to support a smoother transition after Year 11. This includes:
- Highlighting if a student needs to continue working towards English or maths GCSEs.
- Sharing SEND requirements early so support is ready on day one.
- Confirming eligibility for free school meals, where appropriate.
Providing this information securely and more efficiently allows colleges to better support students from the moment they enrol, while reducing administration during one of the busiest times of the academic calendar.
A new chapter for Results Day
While we don’t have all the answers yet, it is interesting to see how the implementation of this new app will pan out in practice. This is an exciting step forward in how exam results are shared, but the heart of Results Day still remains in the school hall.
Results Day has always been about much more than simply receiving a set of grades.
Whatever technology is introduced, schools continue to play an indispensable role. Students will still experience the excitement of collecting their results in school, celebrating with classmates and receiving valuable pastoral guidance from teachers as they prepare for the next stage of their education. The Education Record app simply complements that experience, offering a convenient way to keep track of achievements whenever they’re needed.
