14-19 Update

David MacKay

17 October 2014

Content of presentation1. Academic qualification reforms:

a) GCSEsb) A level review for Englandc) Core Mathematics developmentd) UCAS Tariff changes

2. Review of BTECs

a) Changes to internal assessment arrangementsb) Review of level 3 BTEC Nationalsc) Level 2 Technical Awards for use pre-16d) Substantial vocational qualifications at level 2 for use post-16

3. Accountability (& study programmes)

4. Progression of BTEC students to HE, including guidance website for BTEC students progressing to HE

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Academic reforms:

- GCSEs - AS/A levels- Core Maths

1

GCSEs

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GCSE review – timetable for GCSE subjects

First teaching 2015/first results 2017

• English language, English literature and mathematics

First teaching 2016/first results 2018

• The sciences, history, geography and languages – requirements published by DfE

• Religious studies, design & technology, art & design, drama, dance, music, physical education, computer science and citizenship studies – DfE and Ofqual to consult on the content, structure and assessment

First teaching 2017/first results 2019Ofqual currently consulting on the remaining subjects in suite

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Changes to be made to GCSEs

• A fully linear structure

• Exams as the default method of assessment, except where they cannot provide valid assessment of the skills required

• Inclusion of non-exam assessment to be considered on a subject-by-subject basis

• Tiering to be used only in exceptional cases – it will be decided on a subject-by-subject basis

• A new 1–9 grading scale, with 9 being the top level

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The new grading system and the GCSE standard• Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 4 and

above as currently achieve a grade C and above.

• Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 7 and above as currently achieve an A and above.

• For each exam, the top 20 per cent of those who get grade 7 or above will get a grade 9 – the very highest performers.

• The bottom of grade 1 will be aligned with the bottom of grade G.

• Grade 5 will be positioned in the top third of the marks for a current grade C and bottom third of the marks for a current grade B. This will mean it will be of greater demand than the present grade C, and broadly in line with what the best available evidence tells us is the average PISA performance in countries such as Finland, Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Comparison of new and old scales

New grading scale Old grading scale

9 20% of those achieving grade 7 & above

8

7 A

6

5 B/C

4 C

3

2

1 G

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Arrangements for the 2015 subjects

• English language:

o untiered o fully assessed by an external exam o as now, a speaking assessment that will be reported separately

• English literature:

o untieredo assessed by external exam only

• Mathematics:

o Tiered with an improved overlapping tiers model – foundation tier covering grades 1-5 and higher tier covering grades 4-9

o assessed by external exam only, as now

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AS/A Levels

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A level developments: key decisions

• A levels and AS to be fully linear• AS levels to be stand-alone and at same level as at present• The content of the AS could be a subset of the A level content• No common elements of assessment – i.e. scores on the AS

assessments will not contribute to the A level • Removal of the January series from 2014 onwards • External assessment as the default method of assessment• Inclusion of non-exam assessment to be considered on a

subject-by-subject basis

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A level review timeline

Subjects for phase 1 (first teaching from September 2015):

Art and design; Biology; Business; Chemistry; Computer science; Economics; English language; English literature; English language and literature; History; Physics; Psychology; Sociology.

Subjects for phase 2 (first teaching from September 2016):

Mathematics; Further mathematics; Languages; Geography; Dance; Drama; Music; Design and technology; Religious studies; PE.

Subjects for phase 3 (first teaching from September 2017)Ofqual currently consulting on the remaining subjects to complete the new A/AS suite

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Assessment arrangements for phase 1 subjects

Subject Current % coursework Proposed Additional assessment

Biology 20–30% 100% exam Yes of practical skills

Chemistry 20–30% 100% exam Yes of practical skills

Physics 20–30% 100% exam Yes of practical skills

Psychology None 100% exam No

English Language 15–40% 80% exam, 20% non-exam No

English Literature 15–40% 80% exam, 20% non-exam No

English Lang. and Literature 15–40% 80% exam, 20% non-exam No

History 15–20% 80% exam, 20% non-exam No

Geography (now phase 2) None 80% exam, 20% non-exam No

Art and design 100% 100% non-exam No

Business None 100% exam No

Computing 15–40% 80% exam, 20% non-exam No

Economics None 100% exam No

Sociology None 100% exam No

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Ofqual requirements – question types

“Taken together, assessments should include questions or tasks which allow learners to:

(a) provide extended responses(b) demonstrate their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/or understanding from across a full course of study for that qualification,

and that learners are appropriately rewarded for doing so.” “An ‘extended response’ is evidence generated by a Learner which is of sufficient length to allow that Learner to demonstrate the ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, comprehensive and logically structured.”

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Specific proposals in the Ofqual consultation – AS and A level standards

“The grading standard of the new A levels and AS qualifications will not be different from that of the current versions and despite the changes, we are proposing A levels and AS qualifications will remain substantially the same qualifications as at present.”

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Process and timeline for phase 2

●Facilitating subjects (geography, mathematics, further mathematics, modern and classical languages)– content reviewed by the A Level Content Advisory Board (ALCAB)

●Other subjects (dance, drama, design & technology, music, physical education and religious studies) – content to be reviewed by awarding bodies working collaboratively and liaising with HE

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A Level Content Advisory Board (ALCAB)ALCAB will advise and inform Ofqual of the views of Russell Group institutions, and others within the Higher Education Sector, on the content of A levels.

The guidance from this group will focus on the subjects categorised by the Russell Group as facilitating for entry to leading universities. Its first task was to review Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Languages

Details of panel members and their reports at:

http://alcab.org.uk/reports/

Facilitating subjects to be reviewed by ALCAB

Mathematics Physics

Further Mathematics Geography

English Literature History

Biology Modern Languages

Chemistry Classical Languages

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UCAS proposals for the new Tariff

• New Tariff system to be introduced for admissions in 2017• Qualification information profiles (QIPs) being written for

qualification types (e.g. BTEC Nationals) – will include apprenticeship frameworks and international qualifications

• There will be a metric to compare qualifications in terms of size (glh on the Ofqual Register) and grade (top and bottom pass grades will usually equate to A* and E at A level)

• AS level to receive 40% of the points for an A level• BTEC Nationals and Extended Project aligned as at present• Addition of new qualifications to the Tariff in future will be HEI-

led• Web link:

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/advisers-and-referees/tariff-2017

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Core Maths

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The post-16 mathematics review

Government is working towards a definition of purpose for different types of level 3 mathematics qualifications:

• A level Mathematics – primarily for those wanting to study mathematics, computing, engineering, economics and the sciences at HE

• A level Further Mathematics – aimed at those wanting to study mathematics and physics at HE

• Core Mathematics (new) – for those studying courses where mathematics is important, such as geography, business and the social sciences

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Core mathematics

• Intended for all who have achieved GCSE maths grade C or better

• Equivalent in size to at least half an A level (180 glh)

• Linear qualifications

• Significant element of synoptic assessment – 25%

• At least 80% external assessment

• 2015 – first teaching of new specifications

• 2017 – first awards of the new qualifications

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Objectives of the core maths qualifications

Objective 1: Deepen competence in the selection and use of mathematical methods and techniques

Objective 2: Develop confidence in representing and analysing authentic situations mathematically and in applying mathematics to address related questions and issues

Objective 3: Build skills in mathematical thinking, reasoning and communication

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Core mathematics consultation on technical guidance

Link to report on DfE consultation on Core Maths (7 July 2014):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-maths-qualifications-technical-guidance

Link to technical guidance for awarding bodies on the development of Core Maths qualifications (7 July 2014)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-maths-qualifications-technical-guidance

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Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Certificate in Mathematics in Context

The content areas covered are:

• applications of statistics• probability• linear programming• sequences and growth

Assessment (1005 external assessment):

• Paper 1 (40%) 1 hr 40 mins – source booklet (available 5 days before exam) will detail two real-life contexts, one in section A and 1 in section B

• Paper 2 (60%) 1 hr 40 mins – source booklet will detail one themed task in section A (same as one of the contexts provided in Paper 1); section B contains 3 problem solving tasks with different themes

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