News22 September 2026
The Evaluation Task Force have announced that TASO has been awarded funding from the Evaluation Accelerator Fund for a new project to evaluate a GCSE exam centre for pupils outside of mainstream education who might otherwise end up not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The centre – set up by Dr Luke Graham and Professor Anna Zimdars from the University of Exeter – currently provides a limited number of pupils with free access to sit GCSE maths and English exams, and a place on a post-16 education course at Exeter College. A group from the Policy Institute, King’s College London, led by Johnny Runge, will carry out the evaluation.
The project will evaluate the impact of the exam centre on those who take part, the barriers and enablers to attending the centre, and the feasibility of scaling the project nationally.
Dr Omar Khan, Chief Executive of TASO:
“We are delighted to receive funding from the Evaluation Accelerator Fund to carry out this vitally important work. With an increasing number of young people missing out on sitting GCSEs, assessing this promising project has wide implications. Good GCSE results can improve young people’s employment prospects and wellbeing, while opening up a wider range of educational pathways. Ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to take GCSEs – regardless of background and other barriers they face – is important in tackling persistent inequalities, including in access to higher education.”
Dr Luke Graham, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Exeter:
“This exam centre is a lifeline for young people who physically, geographically or financially can’t access GCSE examinations. Understanding how these centres can be scaled up nationally will help to reduce incidences of NEET for those who are furthest away from continuing education or from employment.”
Johnny Runge, Senior Research Fellow, The Policy Institute, King’s College London:
“We are pleased to be leading the independent evaluation of the Exeter Exam Centre. We look forward to testing the feasibility and scalability of this model so it can serve as a national blueprint for universities, colleges, and local authorities working together to improve access and opportunity for young people outside of mainstream education.“
Interested in learning more about the project?
This project is an example of how universities can work with other education providers and local governments to plug gaps in exam provision for vulnerable pupils and reduce the likelihood of these children being NEET.
The Evaluation Accelerator Fund – administered by the Cabinet Office – supports evaluation across the UK government to transform understanding of the impact of activity in priority policy areas. The fund aims to accelerate evaluation activity and create actionable evidence in UK government priority areas and tackle evidence gaps.
Related news
- BBC News: Home-educated children offered free GCSEs
- University of Exeter: Pioneering work begins to help young people sit GCSEs to tackle the South West’s “NEET” crisis
- Devon County Council: GCSE success for teenagers taking part in pioneering university and college project to reduce South West “NEET” numbers