From summer 2026, Year 11 students across England will be able to view their GCSE results on their phones for the first time, using a new national Education Record app. The move is designed to modernise how exam records are accessed, reduce paperwork for schools and colleges, and make the process of moving into post-16 education quicker and smoother.
The app will give young people a secure digital record of their results for life, meaning they won’t have to rely on paper certificates that can be lost or damaged. It will also support employers by providing clear and accurate information about a candidate’s education history, helping speed up checks during recruitment.
Students will still attend school on results day to meet their teachers in person, celebrate their achievements, and receive advice on next steps. Their results will then be uploaded to the app afterwards, allowing them to access them whenever needed — whether that’s for college enrolment, apprenticeships, further training, or job applications.
Schools and colleges will also benefit from easier access to important information that helps them support learners, including whether students need to continue working towards English and maths GCSEs, have SEND requirements, or qualify for free school meals. This is expected to reduce repetition during enrolment and allow staff to focus on giving students the right guidance and support, rather than chasing documents.
The government estimates the app could save schools and colleges up to £30 million a year in administrative costs once the rollout is complete. These savings could be redirected back into education budgets, freeing up staff time and resources to focus on teaching and supporting students.
The national rollout follows successful pilots in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, where thousands of pupils have already used the app. Schools and colleges are being encouraged to sign up ahead of results days in August 2026, and pupils in participating schools can download the app now and set it up before results day.
The Education Record app is part of the government’s wider plans to improve how the public sector uses technology. Work is already underway to link the app with the GOV.UK Wallet, which could eventually allow people to store key documents — from exam results to driving licences — in one secure digital space.
Education leaders have welcomed the development, saying it could make transitions into college, apprenticeships and work more straightforward, while reducing admin pressure during the busy enrolment period.
Source Gov.UK
