1. Qualification Reform
Update from OFQUAL

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. A Level Sciences - Practicals

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. GCSE Grading Structure from 2017

17. 2017 summer awarding (September 2015 first teach) GCSEs
Maths *English language English literature *Spoken English – Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. Further information...

24. 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 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.