GCSE mathematics linked pair pilot qualifications presentation November 2010

Using this presentation 1 This presentation includes messages and information about the pilot qualifications You should select appropriate slides from the presentation and adapt them to help you produce a presentation for a particular audience You should include the main messages in presentations to any audience

Using this presentation 2 Possible audiences include: learners in the pilot and their parents and carers staff in centres involved in the pilot staff in centres not involved in the pilot admissions officers for higher education and further education employers and employer representative bodies mathematics subject associations and other subject associations information, advice and guidance providers other organisations, including local authorities and networks for non-local authority schools and colleges.

Main messages about the pilot 1 Two distinct pilot qualifications: –GCSE methods in mathematics –GCSE applications of mathematics Together they cover the key stage 4 programme of study with some additional content Students must be entered for both qualifications They are equivalent in standard to other GCSEs in mathematics Learners will have a broader and deeper experience of mathematics

Main messages about the pilot 2 Schools started teaching the pilot qualifications in September 2010 Results for the pilot qualifications are available from summer 2011 in England and summer 2012 in Wales Around 250 schools and several thousand learners are involved in the pilot in Ministers are expected to make a decision about any possible roll-out and the future of the qualifications after 2013

Messages for learners in the pilot (and their parents and carers) You have a chance to get two GCSEs in mathematics (like English and science) These qualifications are the same standard as other GCSEs in mathematics and are graded from A*–G These qualifications provide a richer mathematical experience These qualifications will be considered to be equivalent to other GCSEs in mathematics, for example, when applying to courses for university or applying for jobs in the future

Messages for centres in the pilot Support to help you deliver the pilot qualifications is available from a number of sources NCETM have an online forum for teachers in pilot centres Either of the pilot qualifications will count as a GCSE in mathematics for school and college performance tables purposes, provided the learner has taken both Participating in the pilot (and the evaluation activities) gives you an opportunity to help the development of GCSE mathematics qualifications for the future You should make information about the pilot qualifications available to learners, their parents and carers and providers of further education and employers

Messages for centres not involved in the pilot The qualifications are being piloted by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC OCR have some places for additional pilot centres Pilot places remain for FE institutions Pilot will end in September 2013 The pilot qualifications are not an essential requirement for A level study – the single GCSE is also appropriate

Messages for further education (including admissions officers) Students applying to start further education may have two GCSEs in mathematics The two qualifications together assess the national curriculum key stage 4 programme of study and each has some additional content Each qualification is the same standard as other GCSEs in mathematics These students will have had a richer mathematical experience You need to know about these qualifications if you are involved in deciding entry requirements for courses requiring a particular grade in GCSE mathematics

Messages for higher education admissions officers Students applying to start higher education may have two GCSEs in mathematics These qualifications are the same standard as other GCSEs in mathematics These students will have had a richer mathematical experience You need to know about these qualifications if you are involved in deciding entry requirements for courses requiring a particular grade in GCSE mathematics

Messages for employers Young people applying for full-time jobs may have two GCSEs in mathematics (age 16 from 2011) Graduates applying for full-time jobs may have two GCSEs in mathematics (from 2016) These qualifications are the same standard as other GCSEs in mathematics These learners will have had a richer mathematical experience You need to know about these qualifications if you are involved in recruiting people for jobs requiring a particular grade in GCSE mathematics

Messages for subject associations for mathematics and other subjects 1 A linked pair of GCSEs in mathematics piloted from September 2010 Developed in response to Professor Adrian Smiths inquiry into post-14 mathematics education in 2004 Together they assess the national curriculum mathematics programme of study at key stage 4 and include additional content to give a broader and deeper grounding in mathematics They give learners more opportunities to see how mathematics works in the real world as well as engaging in more conceptual thinking

Messages for subject associations for mathematics and other subjects 2 ACME and JMC were involved in developing the pilot qualifications NCETM is providing an online forum for teachers involved in the pilot ACME, JMC, NCETM, ATM, MA and NANAMIC are members of the pilot advisory group

Pilot qualification introduction 1 Two distinct pilot qualifications: GCSE methods in mathematics GCSE applications of mathematics Together cover the key stage 4 programme of study with some additional content Students must be entered for both GCSEs They provide more opportunities to develop mathematics knowledge and understanding

Pilot qualification introduction 2 They are the same standard as other GCSEs in mathematics and are graded from A*– G They have the same status as other GCSEs in mathematics, for example, when applying to courses in further education or university or applying for jobs in the future Schools started teaching the pilot qualifications in September 2010 Results for the pilot qualifications are available from summer 2011 in England and summer 2012 in Wales Around 250 schools and several thousand learners are taking the pilot qualifications in

Pilot qualification purposes Designed to: provide learners with a rich experience of mathematics allow learners to get two GCSEs in mathematics provide learners with greater opportunities to use and interpret mathematics improve learners attitudes towards mathematics inspire and prepare learners to continue mathematics studies beyond GCSE

Pilot qualification development DfE and DCELLS initiative Developed by QCDA, ACME and JMC A response to Professor Adrian Smiths inquiry into post-14 mathematics education in 2004 Available in England and Wales Offered by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Regulated by Ofqual and DCELLS

Pilot qualification content Two qualifications covering the national curriculum key stage 4 mathematics programme of study: GCSE methods in mathematics focuses on mathematical reasoning and analysis GCSE applications of mathematics focuses on applications of mathematics in contexts that are relevant to the real world, including financial and statistical applications Content covers the programme of study, including functional elements, and some additional content Additional content gives broader grounding in mathematical methods and applications

Pilot qualification evaluation Independent evaluation to investigate: the quality of the qualifications how the pilot qualifications are delivered in centres impact on resources drivers and obstacles to qualification take-up impact on participation, attainment and progression stakeholder perceptions

Pilot qualification timeline Start of pilot September 2010 GCSE awards from August 2011in England from August 2012 in Wales End of pilot August 2013 Independent evaluation concludes December 2013 with advice to ministers to inform a decision about national roll out Pilot qualifications remain available to pilot centres until 2015

Pilot qualification grades, results and relationships with other GCSEs The pilot qualifications will count in school and college achievement and attainment / performance tables The GCSE mathematics linked pair pilot qualifications and single GCSE in mathematics are all at the same standard and are all graded from A*– G An A*– C grade in any of these qualifications counts for the 'five GCSEs at A*– C including English and mathematics' measure But learners must be entered for both pilot qualifications for their grades to count towards this measure

Pilot qualification support The support available for pilot centres includes: an online forum provided by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) pedagogy think pieces by eminent mathematics educators support from awarding bodies including: teaching resources for new topics sample schemes of work additional practice papers briefing sessions online continuing professional development (CPD)

Pilot qualification further information AQAwww.aqa.org.uk Edexcelwww.edexcel.com OCRwww.ocr.org.uk WJECwww.wjec.co.uk NCETMwww.ncetm.org.uk ACME