14-19 Update David MacKay 17 October 2014

Content of presentation 1. Academic qualification reforms: a) GCSEs b) A level review for England c) Core Mathematics development d) UCAS Tariff changes 2. Review of BTECs a) Changes to internal assessment arrangements b) Review of level 3 BTEC Nationals c) Level 2 Technical Awards for use pre-16 d) Substantial vocational qualifications at level 2 for use post Accountability (& study programmes) 4. Progression of BTEC students to HE, including guidance website for BTEC students progressing to HE update2

3 Academic reforms: - GCSEs - AS/A levels - Core Maths 1

GCSEs update4

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 2019 Ofqual currently consulting on the remaining subjects in suite update5

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 update6

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 update7

Comparison of new and old scales New grading scaleOld grading scale 920% of those achieving grade 7 & above 8 7A 6 5B/C 4C 3 2 1G update8

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 untiered o 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 update9

AS/A Levels update10

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 update11

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 update12

Assessment arrangements for phase 1 subjects SubjectCurrent % courseworkProposedAdditional assessment Biology20–30%100% examYes of practical skills Chemistry20–30%100% examYes of practical skills Physics20–30%100% examYes of practical skills PsychologyNone100% examNo English Language15–40%80% exam, 20% non-examNo English Literature15–40%80% exam, 20% non-examNo English Lang. and Literature15–40%80% exam, 20% non-examNo History15–20%80% exam, 20% non-examNo Geography (now phase 2)None80% exam, 20% non-examNo Art and design100%100% non-examNo BusinessNone100% examNo Computing15–40%80% exam, 20% non-examNo EconomicsNone100% examNo SociologyNone100% examNo update13

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.” update14

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.” update15

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 update16

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: Facilitating subjects to be reviewed by ALCAB MathematicsPhysics Further MathematicsGeography English LiteratureHistory BiologyModern Languages ChemistryClassical Languages update17

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: and-referees/tariff-2017http:// and-referees/tariff update18

Core Maths update19

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 update20

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 update21

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 update22

Core mathematics consultation on technical guidance Link to report on DfE consultation on Core Maths (7 July 2014): qualifications-technical-guidance Link to technical guidance for awarding bodies on the development of Core Maths qualifications (7 July 2014) qualifications-technical-guidance update23

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 update24