1. Policy and progress update on the reforms to A levels
Cheryl Shorter
Qualifications Reform
Department for Education

2. Aims Delivery of reformed A levels from 2016 onwards
Decoupling of A level and AS qualifications
Explaining the reforms – support available
Post-16 performance tables
Funding

3. Why reform A levels? Preparing students for further study
Understanding and skills; researching, analysis, critical thinking
Fit for purpose

4. What are the reforms?
13 AS/A level for 2015, 11 for 2016, 21 for 2017 and 13 for 2018
Linear – End of modularisation
Non-exam assessment only where essential to assess knowledge and skills
Decoupled AS from A level
Some subjects haven’t been reformed

5. Timeline
2015/16
First teaching of reformed 2015 GCSEs, AS and A levels
Specifications for GCSEs , AS and A levels to be taught from September 2016 available to schools and colleges
Confirmation of content and regulatory requirements for 2017 A levels and GCSE
New secondary accountability framework in place for 2016 results
2016/17
First exams in reformed 2015 GCSEs, A levels and 2016 AS levels (summer 2017)
First teaching of 2016 GCSEs, AS and A levels.
Specifications for GCSEs, AS and A levels available to schools and colleges
2017 KS4 and performance tables report results of reformed GCSEs

6. Timeline
2017/18
First exams in reformed 2016 GCSEs, A levels and 2017 AS levels (summer 2018)
First teaching of 2017 GCSEs, AS and A levels
2018/19
First teaching of less taught languages GCSEs, AS and A levels
First exams for reformed 2017 GCSEs and A levels (summer 2019)
Evidence from 3 years of NRT results available

7. Decoupling AS and A levels
AS levels are continuing as stand alone qualifications
Add depth and breadth
AS worth 40% of A level
AS marks no longer count towards final A level grade
Reducing burden of routine assessment
Performance standards will stay the same
No uniform mark scale (UMS)

8. How to prepare Up to schools what offer to make to students.
All 2016 subjects have accredited specifications.
All 2017 subjects have content – use this a starting point.
Speak to exam boards – draft specifications, events
Ofqual publish updates on accreditation on websites
AoC guidance

9. Explaining the reforms
Ofqual – ‘postcards’

10. Explaining the reforms
TES tool

11. Explaining the reforms
New! Slide pack – coming soon

12. Post-16 performance tables
New set of five headline measures – focus on progress
Further additional measures
Changes to the qualifications and cohorts reported
Changes to the way students are allocated to schools/colleges

13. Post-16 performance tables
Headline measures
Progress
Attainment
Progress in English and maths (for students without a good pass at the end of KS4)
Retention
Destination

14. Headline measures (continued)
Post-16 performance tables
Headline measures (continued)
Progress
compared to students with the same prior attainment for those taking academic and Applied General qualifications
compared to the national average for those taking Tech Levels
Student value added scores aggregated to give overall VA score for school/college
VA measure for academic and applied general qualifications
Completion/attainment measure for Tech levels
Attainment
Average changing grade measure
Three cohorts – Academic (e.g. A levels), applied general, tech level
Additional attainment measures; best three A levels, AAB in two facilitating subjects, technical baccalaureate

15. Headline measures (continued)
Post-16 performance tables
Headline measures (continued)
Progress in English and Maths (for students without a A*-C GCSE at the end of KS4)
VA measure based on progress in English and/or maths at end of study compared with best grades at end of KS4
Destination
What students go on to once they leave. Shown as a percentage of young people in sustained education, employment and/or training

16. Headline measures (continued)
Post-16 performance tables
Headline measures (continued)
Retention
Percentage of pupils who achieve their core aim
‘Core aim’ taken from data provided by school/college or using method developed by DfE (on the next slide)
Calculated at student level so it is not effected by the number of subjects a student takes
For example for A levels – students must complete programme activities for both years in at least one full A level.
Students taking only AS levels still count as retained (in year 12) if do not continue to A level.

17. Retention core aim DfE model
Post-16 performance tables
Retention core aim DfE model

18. Post-16 performance tables
Minimum standards
For 2016 academic and applied general qualifications
a school/college will be seen as underperforming if:
Its academic or applied general VA score is below the threshold set by DfE and
Its VA score is statistically significantly below national average.
For 2016 tech level qualifications
the minimum standard will take the form of a number of grades below national average
Threshold for each of these will be announce later in the year

19. Post-16 performance tables
Future changes
The key developments for 2017 are:
Further reporting of level 2 qualifications (technical certificates) against each new headline measure
Measures of outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, looking at those who were eligible for pupil premium in year 11

20. Funding and A level reform
Already received allocation for 2016/17 – Details on EFA Information Exchange
English and maths condition of funding
Condition of funding since 2014/15
Students without a minimum grade C in GCSE English and or maths are expected to continue these subjects post-16
Students that should be studying these subjects but aren’t will be removed from funding allocations
Schools/colleges making excellent progress

21. Large programme uplift
Funding and A level reform
Large programme uplift
This will apply from 2016/2017
10% uplift for 4 A levels, 20% for 5 A levels
At least a grade B achieved in all subjects
Equivalent uplifts for full level 3 international Baccalaureate and large Technical Baccalaureate programmes

22. Summary
There’s a lot of change happening quickly – but help is available!
Funding – keep information up to date