1. General Certificate of Secondary Education
Geography GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education

2. How did the GCSE develop?
GCE ‘O’ Level
Introduced 1951
Age 16
Top 20%
Grammar/independent
CSE
Introduced mid 1960s
Wider range of ability (60%)
Grade 1 = ‘O’ level Grade C
Grade 4 = average for the whole age group

3. The problems with a two qualification system
Consistency and comparability of modes of assessment
Public understanding
Status – CSE ‘second class qualification’
Many different awards (Modes 1, 2 and 3)
Variable quality of courses
(Raising of School Leaving Age 1974)

4. The origins of GCSE 1970s – Schools’ Council discussions
Joint 16+ trials
1979 – Labour planned to introduce ‘GCSE’, but lose election
1980s – SEC asked to advise
1986 – Single exam accepted, with A – G scale
3 exam boards created + Wales + NI

5. Features of the GCSE General and Subject Specific criteria
(Originally) ‘O’ level boards responsible for grades A- C (Level 2); CSE boards for D-G (Level 1). (A* introduced in 1994)
Criterion and Norm referenced
Differentiated papers (tiered)
Neglected ‘bottom 40%’
Positive achievement
Increased performance and staying on rates
Strong government influence (DfES and QCA)

6. Examination boards
There are now five examination boards offering GCSEs:
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)
Edexcel
Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA)

7. Tiering In many subjects, two different 'tiers‘ offered:
Higher, grades A*–D
Foundation, grades C-G
If a candidate fails to obtain a Grade G on the Foundation tier or a Grade D on the Higher tier they will fail the course and receive a U.

8. Distinctive features of Key Stage 4
Annual rising standards at GCSE level; ‘grade inflation’
Transition period – choice after compulsory curriculum at KS3
Greater flexibility and choice post 16
Higher ‘staying on’ rates post 16 – last stage of compulsory education, but is this the end point for most students?
Some students disaffected; exclusion rates highest in KS4; vocational options?

9. Challenges and Opportunities for Geography: 2010-2014
Candidate numbers were falling at GCSE and A level
Perception of how useful geography is, in career terms
Gove’s plans to promote an English Baccalaureate; including a compulsory humanities subject
Controlled Assessment
Broad and balanced curriculum
Coherence and progression
The context (Nuffield Review)

10. What’s the situation now?
GCSE entry numbers have increased (investigate this for yourself, by going to
and-entry-level-certificate-results-summer-2014
In turn, the job market for geography teachers has expanded
There is a likely ‘knock on effect’ for AS and A2 numbers, particularly in light of stories like this:
to-know-before-making-your-a-level-choices
galleries/ /Ten-recession-proof-degree- subjects.html?frame=
BUT there is another huge reform on the way….
qualifications-and-the-curriculum-to-better-prepare-pupils-for- life-after-school/supporting-pages/gcse-reform