GCSE CHANGES
Change is in the air
We are experiencing one of the biggest ever periods of change in our education system
with the 14 to 19 reforms in full flow. Before taking a more in-depth look at some of the
GCSE changes, we give you an overview of what is happening and when
G
CSEs are going through their biggest over more than 300 different GCSEs being Units will be content driven, or divided
overhaul since being introduced in the offered by all the examining boards. into the skills that are required to be
late 1980s, with new course content Now the courses have been finalised and in demonstrated, such as speaking, listening,
and a different form of assessment. October 2008, details of the new GCSEs will reading and writing in language.
Virtually all subjects – with the exception be sent out to schools in preparation for first However, the QCA has decided that
of English, maths and ICT – have been teaching in September 2009. candidates will only be able to resit each unit
reviewed and redesigned to make them A decision was taken not to return to linear once. “There have been concerns about the
more accessible, more engaging, and so they assessment, where subjects are tested by amount of assessment going on. By allowing
contain greater relevance to young people in examination at the end of two years of study, only one resit, it takes the focus back onto
today’s world. because this does not reflect real life. learning,” Ms Coldicott said.
“The last changes were relatively minimal The thinking was that most young people One of the biggest changes in GCSEs is
and took place in 2001, so even that was will be unlikely to find themselves in a the introduction of controlled assessment, in
some time ago,” explained Sara Coldicott, situation in their working life where they will favour of coursework.
OCR’s head of qualifications development. not have a second chance to get something Ms Coldicott explained: “This is
“There have been a lot of social and right through practice and improving their something that has been introduced at the
scientific developments since then and the skills. QCA’s instigation because of fears that
world is constantly changing. There was Overall, there will be three main changes some students’ work was not their own, and
a feeling that GCSE had become rather to GCSE compared with what has gone on that there was too much help from staff or
predictable and it was time to review them before, Ms Coldicott explained. parents.”
and to make them more relevant for young First, the structure of the GCSEs offered by Teachers will be able to continue giving
people.” OCR will be unitised, and become modular limited help, and students will be able to do
It is hoped the changes will help to in structure. For many subjects this will mean their research and information gathering in
their own time, but the writing up of work
will be done under controlled conditions,
inspire and motivate ‘
There was a feeling that GCSE had
within timescales and to designated word
counts. This will remove opportunities for
become rather predictable and it was time
plagiarism.
“Some students were submitting far too
to review them and to make them more
much coursework for which they were
getting no additional credit. More focused
relevant for young people
assessments will give guidance to students
the 40 per cent or so that there are two assessment points
’
and help to concentrate their minds on what
they need to submit,” Ms Coldicott added.
One of the new criteria for assessment,
each set by the QCA, is that it should include a
of candidates every year who fail to achieve year, in June and January, but with at least 40 variety of question types, which encourage
any A* to C grades, many of whom leave per cent of the assessment being taken at the extended writing. It means that pupils will no
school and undertake no further education end of the course. longer see examination questions following a
or training. The revisions have considered “Within those constraints, however, the standard formula.
what is being taught and how teachers are units can be used flexibly and some pupils Under the GCSE reforms, short courses,
delivering the material. will prefer to do all of their assessment at the which have half the value of a full GCSE,
English, maths and ICT have been left end of the course,” Ms Coldicott said. will be broadened with more subjects
out of the current reforms because of the OCR examinations will typically have becoming available.
introduction of functional skills in 2010, and between two and four units, but most will “Short courses can be covered in a single
the need to carry out a comprehensive trial of have three or four. year or stretched out over a period of time,
the new requirements in the meantime. Once The QCA has decided that each and are designed to give greater flexibility
these have been introduced, students will specification will fall into one of three to give students a greater experience and to
be unable to achieve a grade C or higher at categories when it comes to assessment. complement the full GCSEs they are doing,”
GCSE in these three subjects without passing Some subjects will comprise 100 per cent Ms Coldicott explained.
the functional skills element. examinations, while others will be made up “It could be that doing a short course can
At the same time, a number of new of 25 per cent controlled assessment and 75 be linked to an after-school club or activity,
subjects are being introduced at GCSE by per cent examination. Typically, these will be or they may be appropriate where there is
the exam boards. For example, OCR has subjects with less of a practical element, such not enough room in the timetable to do a full
created ancient history and law in response to as geography, history or business studies. GCSE.”
demand from schools who wanted pupils to Where the nature of the GCSE requires In modern foreign languages, for example,
gain a grounding in these areas earlier on in a more practical and work-related input candidates will be able to choose whether
their school lives, in the hope that they will – such as PE, music, language and media to focus on the written or spoken language
be better prepared for A level and beyond. – 40 per cent of the course will be examined when doing a short course.
Since Spring 2008, the Qualifications and externally and 60 per cent assessed under One of the most innovative changes to
Curriculum Authority (QCA) has been poring controlled conditions. GCSEs will be the introduction of on-screen
6 SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION IN QUALIFICATIONS
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