Official Statistics

Pre-release access list: Access Arrangements for GCSE, AS and A level, 2020 to 2021 academic year

Published 18 November 2021

This official statistics was withdrawn on

In 2025, Ofqual analysed a more detailed access arrangements dataset that we had requested from exam boards. Our analysis highlighted that our previously published official statistics on access arrangements overstated the number of approved access arrangements in place for the exam cohort in each year. For more details, see

Using this new more detailed dataset, we are strengthening our methodologies for analysis and quality assurance and plan to publish revised figures in our 2025 release. We intend for this release to include the academic years between 2020 to 2021 and 2024 to 2025, for which we have the new data.

While we complete that work, we are withdrawing the previously published statistics because of the limitations we have identified through our analysis.

This issue does not affect the figures relating to modified papers, which are based on a different data source and which are now available at Modified papers for GCSE, AS and A level: 2014 to 2024.

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at /government/statistics/access-arrangements-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-2020-to-2021-academic-year/pre-release-access-list-access-arrangements-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-2020-to-2021-academic-year

In addition to the professional and production staff at Ofqual, pre-release access to the statistics of up to 24 hours is granted to the following post holders.

1. Ofqual

  • Acting Executive Director, SRR (Standards and Comparability)
  • Chief Regulator
  • Director of Communications
  • Executive Director for General Qualifications
  • Private Secretary

2. Department for Education

  • Analyst
  • Assistant Director, English Baccalaureate implementation and Curriculum Support
  • Deputy Director, 2021 Division
  • Deputy Director, Qualifications Directorate
  • Media Office
  • Media Office
  • Minister for School Standards
  • Policy Advisors, Qualifications Systems Division
  • Policy Advisors, Qualifications Systems Division
  • Private Secretary
  • Secretary of State for Education
  • Senior Media Officer, Education and Schools Communications Group
  • Special Advisor

3. AQA

  • Senior PR & Media Manager

4. Cambridge Assessment

  • Head of Public Affairs

5. OCR

  • Head of Public Relations

6. Pearson

  • Director of Accreditation and Standards
  • Director of Assessment
  • Director of Business Improvement and Regulation
  • Director of Operational Delivery and Governance
  • Head of Regulation
  • Qualification Processing Director
  • Regulation Manager
  • Responsible Officer
  • Senior Vice President Schools

7. WJEC

  • Brand Manager
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