Qualification Reform Update from OFQUAL

New A Levels Changes for England only All exams will be taken in Summer at the end of the course Non-Exam assessment only where necessary to assess essential skills Science – introduction of science practical (separate to A Level) Same level of challenge as current A levels Grading will stay the same A* - E

New AS Levels Changes for England only All exams will be taken at the end of the course Non-Exam assessment only where necessary to assess essential skills Same level of challenge as current AS levels Grading will stay the same A* - E New AS will not count towards a A level grade

2017 summer awarding (September 2015 first teach) AS and A Levels English language English literature English language and literature Biology Chemistry Physics Psychology Computer science Business History Art and design Economics Sociology

A Level Sciences - Practicals

Changes to science practicals A level science – assessment of practical skills students undertake at least 12 practical activities (not experiments as it says on the slide) in order to develop and demonstrate their competency in practical skills students will get a separate pass/fail grade for practical skills - reported separately from their main grade require schools to provide AOs with an annual statement confirming that those schools have taken reasonable steps to secure that students have undertaken at least 12 practical activities, and have made a contemporaneous record of their work. exam boards will monitor centres to check how schools provide their students with opportunities to take the practical science assessments and how they assess them. Visits to centres already underway – joint operation across exam boards; visits at elast every 2 years so all centres will be visited in the first 2 years of their course Differentiation Impact on teaching – learning (indirect assessment) Outcomes not matched by HE experience Criteria written in texts of competency; available on website; had input from a range of stakeholders; trialled.

Modern foreign languages Ancient languages Religious studies 2018 summer awarding (September 2016 subject to accreditation of specifications) 2018 summer awarding (September 2016 first teach – subject to accreditation of specifications) AS and A Levels Geography Modern foreign languages Ancient languages Religious studies Drama and theatre Dance Music Physical education

2019 summer awarding (September 2017 first teach) AS and A Levels Accounting Ancient History Classical Civilisation Design and Technology Electronics Environmental Science Film Studies Geology History of Art Law Maths Media Studies Music Technology Philosophy Politics Statistics Maths Further Maths

Summary of Changes AS and A Level Changes are for England only Linear examinations in both AS and A Levels AS is decoupled and standalone Schools will have different approaches Not all students will take/be able to take an AS qualification No UMS scores

Summary of Changes AS and A Level Mixed economy of legacy and new AS and A Levels Students achieving grade B in new qualification would have achieved B in old qualification Fully converted to reformed qualifications by 2021

International AS and A Levels Grading scale will remain the same Continue to be coupled Continue to be modular Science – practical will be included in the qualification

Northern Ireland A and AS Levels Open qualifications market Revised CCEA A Levels – first teach 2016 WJEC and CCEA – AS will contribute 40% to overall A Level grades Science – practical will be included in the qualification

Wales A and AS Levels Grading scale will remain the same Continue to be coupled AS outcomes will contribute to 40% of the grade Science – practical will be included in the qualification

New GCSEs Content – new, more demanding content, which government is responsible for Structure – linear, with all exams in the summer at the end of the course. Assessment – exam where possible, other forms of assessment only where necessary to assess essential subject skills Grading – new numbered scale from 9 to 1 (plus U), 9 is the highest. Clearer differentiation at the higher end of grading.

GCSE Grading Structure from 2017

2017 summer awarding (September 2015 first teach) GCSEs Maths *English language English literature *Spoken English – Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified

2018 summer awarding (September 2016 subject to accreditation of specifications) GCSEs Geography History Biology Chemistry Physics Double science Ancient languages Modern foreign languages Music Art and design Physical education Computer science Religious studies Citizenship studies Cooking and nutrition Dance Drama

2019 summer awarding September 2017 first teach GCSEs Ancient History Astronomy Business Classical Civilisation Design and Technology Economics Electronics Engineering Film Studies Geology Media Studies Psychology Sociology Statistics GCSE Short Course in PE

Summary of Changes GCSE New grading system – 9 to 1 (9 being highest) Linear qualifications Awarded a combination of letter and numerical grades during transition

Northern Ireland GCSEs WJEC and CCEA will offer reformed GCSEs in NI WJEC – first teach 2015-2017 CCEA – first teach 2017 Grades will remain A* - G

Wales GCSEs Offer some linear and some unitized subjects Grading scale remains A* - G Two new Mathematics GCSEs – replacing current single qualification Mathematics Mathematics: Numeracy New range of science GCSEs including Applied Science

Further information... www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-gcses-as-and-a-levels-accredited-to-be-taught-from-2016 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/timings-for-the-withdrawal-of-legacy-gcses-as-and-a-levels http://ccea.org.uk/qualifications/revision http://qualificationswales.org/qualifications/gcses/?lang=en http://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/entry/a-level-reforms/

Statement on A Level Reforms A/AS level York has always welcomed breadth in the school curriculum in Years 12 and 13 provided by, for example, additional subjects taken at AS level or independent work such as an Extended Project Qualification. We recognise that the planned changes to the 16-19 curriculum will mean that, from 2017 entry on, the opportunities open to students to take combinations of A and AS level examinations will vary from school to school and college to college. We will not discriminate for or against students according to the practice in their school or college and we will continue to take into account all information available to us in the UCAS application, including past examination performance and predictions of future success. Separation of Science practical assessments York recognises the value of practical work undertaken during the study of science A levels in contributing to students’ understanding of the curriculum and in building skills for the future. When results in academic and practical work are separately reported, we will normally expect to see a Pass grade in the practical element of a science A level. Where a Pass grade is required, this will be explicitly stated as part of the applicant’s offer.