RESOURCES
Guidance and support to deliver new GCSEs
OCR has a range of guidance and support available to help
eSAMS
you switch to the new GCSE specifications.
All GCSE subjects with an e-assessed unit have eSAMS
Parool Patel, head of the GCSE Project, marketing and
available alongside paper-based versions. OCR has
communications, said: “Our own support materials are
published specimen e-tests for centres to see what the
backed up by an extensive training programme. We are
e-tests will look like and how staff can use the eSAMS
also working with three publisher partners – Heinemann,
as practice tests for candidates. GCSE subjects featuring
Hodder Education and Oxford University Press – to
eSAMS include citizenship, economics, Latin, law,
guarantee that a comprehensive range of OCR-endorsed
engineering, geography A, health and social care, and
resources is available from early 2009.”
manufacturing. The software is available now.
OCR’s new GCSE specifications for teaching from
Visit: www.ocr.org.uk/gcse2009
September 2009 are now available online, together
with Sample Assessment Materials (SAMS), and Sample GCSE Networks
Controlled Assessment Materials.
Meet colleagues from other centres and share best practice
Visit: www.ocr.org.uk/gcse2009
at OCR’s GCSE Network meetings. The first of these will
take place in November 2008.
OCR support materials
Visit: www.ocr.org.uk/events/networks.html
OCR has been consulting with teachers and subject experts
to develop free support available to all centres. Support that Resources
will be available to download from the OCR website by late
OCR is working with Heinemann, Hodder Education and
2008 includes:
Oxford University Press to ensure that textbooks and
• Sample schemes of work and lesson plans.
electronic resources will be available from Spring 2009.
• A Teachers’ Handbook containing generic and subject-
Sample publisher partner GCSE resources can be
specific information, a resources list and FAQs.
previewed at OCR’s Get Ready and Get Started training
• A Guide to Controlled Assessment to help teachers
events. More information about OCR endorsed publisher
with planning for controlled assessment, task-marking,
resources can be found online.
administration and regulations.
Visit: www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/typeindex.html
In response to feedback from teachers, OCR is also
developing candidate-style answers to SAMS for selected
subjects from January 2009.
More support from OCR
Other innovations for 2008/09 include:
Call the Customer Contact Centre with general enquiries
• E-communities, in a brand new forum format for 2009,
or to speak to a qualification manager about a specific
stimulating discussion and offering peer-to-peer support.
question you may have about any of OCR’s new
• Controlled assessment consultancy helping you in
specifications. Call: 01223 553 998
preparation for this new type of assessment.
• Virtual classroom – available from September 2008.
A new Teacher Planner has been designed to help teachers
Teachers will be able to book subject-specific sessions
organise all the relevant information, including for lesson
with online facilitators and qualifications staff.
planning. It offers useful websites and administration codes
Visit: www.ocr.org.uk/gcse2009
for the 2008/09 academic year. This can be ordered online.
Visit: www.GCSEchanges.com/teacherplanner
OCR INSET training
When it comes to INSET training, OCR is providing a
A full range of collectable OCR classroom posters are also
programme of free Get Ready and Get Started events
available and can be ordered free of charge. These have
across the country to give teachers an overview of the
been designed for use during options evenings, parent
structure, content and assessment of the new specifications. information evenings, and also for classroom display, and
Ongoing until December 2009, you can register now. include interesting facts about all GCSE subjects.
Visit: www.ocr.org.uk/training Visit: www.GCSEchanges.com/posters
All dates published in this supplement were correct at the time of going to press and are subject to change.
20 SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION IN QUALIFICATIONS L105
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