When Ofqual announced that some GCSE and A-level exams could be taken on laptops by 2030, the response was swift—and not just from teachers and parents.
Actor Hugh Grant publicly criticised the idea, calling it a “catastrophe”. His comments quickly gained attention, and judging by the reaction online, they tapped into a concern many parents already feel but struggle to articulate.
This debate isn’t just about exams. It’s about screens, childhood, fairness, and what learning should look like in a digital age.
What is actually being proposed?
Despite some dramatic headlines, Ofqual is not planning to move all GCSE exams online.
The consultation proposes:
- Limited onscreen versions of certain GCSEs and A-levels
- Only for subjects with fewer than 100,000 entries
- No change to high-entry subjects like GCSE maths
- Paper exams continuing alongside digital ones
- No use of students’ personal devices
If approved, these exams would not appear until around 2030, giving schools several years to prepare.
You can read Ofqual’s official announcement and consultation details directly on the Ofqual website.
Why Hugh Grant’s comments resonated
Hugh Grant’s criticism focused less on exam mechanics and more on the bigger picture. He warned that moving GCSE exams online could push schools further away from books, pens, and handwriting, increasing children’s already heavy exposure to screens.
For many parents, this struck a chord.
Children now revise on tablets, submit homework online, and spend much of their free time on screens. Traditional exams feel, to some families, like one of the last places where learning slows down and becomes physical again.
The concern is not simply about GCSEs—it’s about balance.
You can read Hugh Grant’s full comments as reported by The Independent.
Why some parents quietly support onscreen GCSE exams
At the same time, many parents see potential benefits.
Teachers have long raised concerns about handwriting stamina. Some students struggle to write for extended periods, not because they lack understanding, but because they rarely practise sustained handwriting.
Research from University College London found that students often achieved higher scores when typing essays compared with handwriting them, including pupils with learning difficulties. For these families, limited onscreen GCSE exams feel like a fairer way to assess knowledge rather than speed or physical endurance.
You can read more about this research via University College London.
The real tension: progress versus protection
This debate highlights a genuine tension in modern education.
Parents worry about:
- Too much screen time
- The erosion of handwriting skills
- Inequality between schools with different access to technology
But they also worry about:
- Students being disadvantaged by slow writing
- Exam stress caused by physical fatigue
- Assessments failing to reflect how students actually work
Ofqual has been careful to stress that it is “not gung-ho” about digital exams and that traditional GCSEs will remain central. That caution has helped, but it hasn’t ended the conversation.
Final thoughts
The strong reaction to Ofqual’s proposal—and to Hugh Grant’s comments—shows how emotionally invested parents are in their children’s education.
For now, GCSE exams remain firmly paper-based. But the discussion itself matters. It forces regulators, schools, and families to think carefully about fairness, development, and how assessment should evolve without losing what works.
As with most education debates, the answer is unlikely to be all-or-nothing. And that may be exactly where the balance lies.
