When is GCSE results day 2027, and what should we do on the day?

Results day can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Knowing what to expect, and what to do if things do not go to plan, makes it much easier. Here is a guide for families in Barking, Dagenham and nearby.

When is GCSE results day 2027?

GCSE results day 2027 is Thursday 19 August 2027. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) sets this date for all the main exam boards (JCQ key dates, June 2027).

Schools receive results the day before, but students get them on results day. Your child's school will tell you the time and whether results can be emailed.

What should we do on results day?

Go to school, or check the method the school has given you, and look at every grade carefully. Then confirm the next step.

A simple checklist:

1. Check the results slip. Make sure every subject is there and the details are right.
2. Compare with the offer. Does your child meet the conditions of their sixth form or college offer?
3. Contact the sixth form or college. Many hold enrolment on results day or the day after. For example, the London Academy of Excellence held enrolment days on results day and the day after in 2026.
4. Take ID and the results slip to enrolment.
5. Talk to a teacher before leaving school if anything looks wrong.

Phones should be charged, and it helps to have a list of sixth form phone numbers ready.

What if a grade looks wrong?

You can ask the school to request a review. These are called post-results services, and the school (not the parent) sends the request to the exam board.

Based on JCQ's post-results guidance for 2026:

Important points:

• Grades can go down as well as up. Your child must give written consent before the school asks for a re-check or review.
• There is a deadline. In 2026, the last date for exam boards to receive review requests was 24 September. Check the 2027 guidance and your school's own earlier deadline.
• There may be a fee. Each exam board sets its own fees, so ask the school how much it is and who pays.

Ask for a review only if the mark is close to a grade boundary or something looks clearly wrong. The AQA grade boundaries are published on results day, which helps you see how close your child was.

What if my child gets below a 4 in English or maths?

They will keep studying that subject after Year 11. This is a government rule for students aged 16 to 19.

Under the DfE's maths and English condition of funding for 2026 to 2027:

• A student with a grade 3 must study towards a GCSE in that subject.
• A student with a grade 2 or below may study towards a GCSE or Functional Skills level 2.

This happens alongside their main course at sixth form or college.

When can my child resit GCSE English or maths?

There is a November exam series for GCSE English Language and maths, as well as the summer series. The JCQ key dates for November 2026 show exams from 2 to 11 November 2026, with results on 13 January 2027.

November papers are only for older students. For example, AQA's November 2026 timetable says GCSEs are only open to students aged 16 or over on 31 August 2026. Most students resit through their sixth form or college, which enters them for exams.

Students who are not at a school or college can enter as private candidates. LCB is an approved exam centre in Barking where students can sit GCSEs and A-Levels; contact us to ask about availability.

What are the sixth form and college options in Barking and Dagenham?

There are many choices, from school sixth forms to colleges and apprenticeships. The council's Local Offer website lists local providers, including:

The council also lists apprenticeships and supported internships as routes after Year 11 (LBBD Local Offer).

If your child misses an offer, call other sixth forms and colleges on results day. Places do come up. Selective sixth forms are covered in our guide to selective sixth forms in East London, and local schools in best secondary schools in Barking and Dagenham.

How can we prepare before results day?

The best preparation happens months earlier. In Year 11, a clear revision timetable and a plan after mock results make the biggest difference.

Before the day itself:

• Know the conditions of every offer.
• Have a backup option in mind.
• Save the school's exams office contact details.

How can LCB help?

We support GCSE students in Barking, Dagenham and East London, in small groups of 3 to 5 or online. For students resitting English or maths, we teach to the exam board and tier they are entered for, with the same tutor each week and a monthly progress report.

Start with a free 30-minute assessment to find the gaps. See GCSE tutoring, our Barking and Dagenham pages, or book a free assessment.