MATHS, ENGLISH & ICT
Subjects
to change
“We will be developing qualifications which our ideas are what they are looking for,” Ms “OCR welcomes the emphasis on
teachers and learners can engage with and Coldicott said. problem-solving in the new maths criteria,
which are straightforward to deliver,” she said. Controlled assessment will be a key feature even without the introduction of the second
“We want assessments that reflect in each qualification. For English and English specification,” Ms Coldicott added.
the learning experience and which are language, 60 per cent of the assessment will “We believe that we will be able to develop
strengthened by quality support and advice be controlled assessment, with 25 per cent in engaging, relevant specifications which will
and by our core support materials plus English literature. dovetail well with the requirements for the
resources from our publisher partners. OCR is reviewing what is assessed and functional skills assessments.”
“We are actively asking teachers what is how it is assessed, the literary texts used and OCR is giving consideration to issues such
important to them in the new qualifications the different types of literature, the use of as: the length of each paper, the font size, the
and we would urge them to make their views changing language, syntax, levels of diction, percentage of papers for which calculators
known, both to the QCA and to us.” and phraseology used in the modern world. are allowed, and the language used.
English Maths ICT
The new subject criteria create the possibility The draft subject criteria for maths are based Changes to the ICT criteria are less far-
for three different GCSE qualifications on a process-based approach which reflects reaching than for the other two subjects.
– English, English language, and English the new programme of study for key stage However, there will be particular issues
literature. 4 maths into which the functional skills related to distinctiveness with the functional
This is the first time an English language standards have been embedded. There will be skills assessments – particularly against the
specification will be offered, though it will no controlled assessment in mathematics. short course. There will be a short course,
only meet the requirement for performance The plan when the criteria were originally full course and double award for GCSE ICT,
table purposes if entered alongside English drafted, was for there to be two distinct all based on the same criteria.
literature. qualifications, provisionally entitled: GCSE The GCSE ICT specifications will have a
These qualifications together meet the mathematics and GCSE mathematics weighting of 40 per cent external assessment
key stage 4 programme of study, as does the problem-solving. and 60 per cent internal assessment.
single English GCSE. There will be a more However, the QCA has encountered “We will be working with teachers to
direct progression route to A level where there some difficulty in writing criteria which are determine how the internally assessed parts
are already three separate qualifications. sufficiently distinct and, despite a government of the specification can work effectively to
Schools and colleges will have to decide remit, the consultation has gone ahead engage students and be manageable in the
whether they want to enter their students for primarily on a single mathematics GCSE. classroom,” Ms Coldicott said.
one or two GCSEs. The amount and type The mathematics community has been “Our aim is to keep abreast of innovations
of literature which they wish to cover will supportive of a second GCSE, but only and move with current technologies. For
be a major driver and OCR is encouraging if the majority of pupils are taking both example our proposed qualifications will
teachers to comment on the English literature assessments. There has been concern that allow learners to explore technology such as
subject criteria to ensure that this is an reporting on only the compulsory maths for satellite navigation.
attractive option. league tables purposes could marginalise the “We will also be consulting on the
“We are still looking at how the different second GCSE. Details about a possible second extent to which teachers want e-assessment
strands of learning in English can best be GCSE can be found within the questionnaire – a specification which is 100 per cent
assessed, within the criteria requirements, to the consultation, to which teachers are electronically assessed is an option for this
and want to hear from teachers as to whether being encouraged to respond. subject.”
SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION
11
IN QUALIFICATIONS
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